Lecturers on picket line at King Edward VI College, Stourbridge

They were picketing outside the college on Duke Street earlier this morning in a dispute over pay.

The college has said it is open despite the strike.

Members of the union National Education Union (NEU) are striking over a pay offer from the Sixth Form Colleges Association which it said would see the majority of teachers receive a 5 per cent pay award, rising to 8.9 per cent for a small minority - while inflation is running at 11 per cent.

King Edwards VI Media and English teacher Georgia Preston Sell, who is an interim rep for NEU, said: "Striking is always a last resort, but teachers' pay has been cut in real terms by 20% in the last 12 years, and the sixth form sector has been cut by 15% in the same time period.

"We need the government to provide a fully funded pay rise and increase funding to this sector.

"King Edward VI is a very successful A level provider and really valued by the local community and we want to be able to keep providing a high-quality education to the young people of Stourbridge."

The picket line this morning (Image: Georgia Preston Sell)

88.5 per cent of staff voted to strike in a ballot where there was a turnout of 63 per cent.

King Edward VI College principal Holly Bembridge said: "Staff work incredibly hard to help our students emerge with expertise and confidence, and we are proud of our track record of excellent results.

"It is important that these efforts are recognised by the government when they make decisions on funding for teachers, and this is at the heart of the NEU’s dispute."