College teachers in Shropshire go on strike
About 40 teachers were today striking at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College as well as 22 of their collegues at New College in Telford as part of a nationwide dispute over funding.
The college's formal timetable was suspended for the day and students were forewarned about the action, college spokeswoman Laurina Rushworth said. She added about half of the college's teaching staff would be involved.
She said: "Shrewsbury Sixth Form College has notified students and parents to the industrial action by members of the National Union of Teachers.
"This strike, affecting sixth form colleges only, is part of the union's dispute with the Secretary of State for Education concerning funding levels and their impact within the sixth form college sector.
"Recognising that more than 50 per cent of our teaching staff will be affected by this action, we have taken the decision to suspend formal timetabled teaching.
"However Shrewsbury Sixth Form College will be open to students and those staff members not involved in the action will be available, as normally timetabled, for drop in sessions. Study centres will be open and the extensive on-line learning resources are accessible via our virtual learning environment, Moodle."
The college provides education for around 1,500 students.
Chloe Wright, spokeswoman for New College in Wellington said: "The college is open today as usual. Lessons have not been cancelled and arrangements are in place to support students whose teachers are not in, so their studies will not be disrupted. Only members of the NUT are taking action."
