TEACHERS at 34 sixth-form colleges and academies are walking out on strike on Tuesday over pay, conditions, terms of employment and government cuts.

Funding for education for 16 to 19-year-olds has been cut by more and for longer than in schools, the National Education Union (NEU) has warned.

And funding increases announced before the general election are “grossly inadequate,” the union said.

“Jobs have been cut, class sizes have risen and pay has fallen,” the NEU said in a statement.

“If the crisis continues to go unaddressed, the future of the sector is at threat and it is students’ education that will continue to suffer.”

The union says there is a £700 million shortfall in funding for post-16 education and is demanding extra funding “to reverse job losses, class size increases and cuts to teaching time and curriculum provision.”

NEU joint general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said: “16-19 education is under incredible pressure, with sixth-form colleges bearing the brunt of real-terms cuts.

“That is why our members are pressuring the government ahead of the Budget.

“At the very least we need a £700 million injection of new money to close the gap with schools, otherwise the crisis will continue.”

The 34 sixth form colleges represent 38 per cent of the total number of institutions. More colleges are balloting on the action.

In October and November last year, three days of strike action also took place, as well as on February 12 and 17 this year.