Government to challenge sixth-form teachers' strike in court

The government is putting up a legal challenge to prevent a strike by sixth-form teachers over cuts.

Eighty six per cent of members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) who were balloted in February voted in favour of action on a 44% turnout.

They argue reduced funding will impact on the most disadvantaged students.

The Department of Education has said that it will seek to prevent the strike in the High Court today, according to the BBC.

When the result of the ballot was announced, Kevin Courtney, deputy general secretary of the NUT, said funding had already been cut in real terms by 14% and further real-terms cuts of 8% were now planned.

He called the situation "untenable" and said: "This strong ballot result shows the strength of feeling amongst sixth-form college teachers.

In response to the Government's plans, he told the BBC: "We regret that the Government has chosen this route rather than seeking to resolve the dispute through negotiations about adequate funding for the sector, which could protect teachers' conditions of service and students' conditions of learning."