Teachers at Itchen Sixth Form College said they had no other choice but to strike as they formed a picket line outside the college entrance on Thursday morning.

It’s the first of three days of strike action – with another two days of strikes planned for next week – with staff campaigning for fairer pay and funding.

Speaking to the Echo, Hannah Porteous, a law teacher at Itchen College, said: “We felt we had no other choice but to strike, none of us want to be here.

“The college is a brilliant college, and we all want to be inside teaching students, but we’ve got no other choice but to withdraw our labour to try and make the government listen.

“The government promised to give schoolteachers a 5.5 per cent pay increase and then they clarified that also includes academised sixth forms and sixth forms attached to schools.

“So, that leaves sixth forms like us that are covered by the SFCA (Sixth Form Colleges Association) not getting a pay increase.”

Itchen College staff strike over pay (Image: Matt Davey) READ MORE: Itchen College teachers to go on strike for three days

Staff at Itchen College were joined by colleagues at Barton Peveril College and Peter Symonds College, along with 30 others across the country.

Hannah added: “A lot of people aren’t aware of the differences between teachers in schools and teachers in sixth forms – or even academy sixth forms – which there shouldn’t be a difference between, but this has really highlighted the issue.

“I do sympathise with the students affected by strike action. I’ve told my students I was going to be striking, and I’ve explained to them the reasons why – and they’ve asked questions – we do recognise the impact it will have and it’s not a decision any of us have taken lightly.

“Generally, the students have been supportive and know they can still come in and use the resources or work from home. We always welcome their questions.”