Listen to this story Members can listen to an AI-generated audio version of this article. 1.0x Audio narration uses an AI-generated voice. 0:00 0:00 Become a member to listen to this article Subscribe Hundreds of staff at Capital City College are striking for four days during this week’s exam period over “workload concerns”. Members of the University and College Union (UCU) are holding picket lines outside the London college group’s eight campuses between today (Tuesday 12) and Friday. The union claims the college has “refused to deal seriously” with concerns about workload and student learning conditions since a meeting in January. CCC told FE Week it is “disappointing” that UCU members have chosen to strike during exam period “when students should be the main focus”. A college spokesperson added: “We want to reassure students, parents and carers that all exams and assessments will go ahead as planned and will not be affected.” UCU claimed around 500 of the 1,700 staff at the college group’s 11 centres are striking this week. The latest strike at the London college comes after a January agreement that included a 4 per cent pay award for staff, additional annual leave, support for workload discussions and a commitment to review incremental pay scales. The UCU said management had initially promised two meetings to discuss workload issues by the Easter break, but only “belatedly” met with union reps for the first time last week in response to the threat of strike. The union said its demands include increased tutorial time, more support for students with special needs, and additional student wellbeing staff. UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: “Our members are on strike this week because management has refused to meaningfully improve staff working and student learning conditions. “This action could have been avoided had senior leaders met with our reps earlier in the year to progress negotiations. “Unfortunately, they have refused to deal seriously with workload concerns. We hope they now come back to the table so we can avoid further disruption.” A CCC spokesperson said: “We are disappointed that the University and College Union has called its members to strike despite an agreement reached in January 2026. “It is also disappointing that industrial action is taking place during the exam period, at a time when students should be the main focus.” The spokesperson claimed that “misinformation” has been circulated about the strike, but did not respond when asked for evidence. In January, CCC also settled a dispute with National Education Union (NEU) members at its sixth form college campus over whether pay should increase in line with Sixth Form College Association (SFCA) pay scales. After 19 days of strike, the NEU accepted that pay will increase in line with the SFCA for the rest of this academic year only. CCC is one of the largest college groups in the country, with 12 main centres across central and north London that merged from three individual college groups, including City and Islington College, in 2016 and 2017.
A teacher 13 May 2026 As a past UCU member, there is no chance I’d strike during the exams period. Poor form impacting learners during a crucial time.
An educator 13 May 2026 Absolutely agree. Looks like they are all putting ‘learners at the heart of everything we do’! Once the learners fail exams, then the blame can be put on management saying they fail due to strike action, not due to poor teaching in FE. So, this strike is actually perfectly timed 🙂 A real good modus operandi for all other FE colleges across England to follow.
Mel 13 May 2026 Actually disagree with you there, because as teachers we would have had approx 30 weeks of teaching/input by now- so our jobs in terms of delivering the knowledge/skills required to sit the exams is done. Striking during exam period puts pressure on SLT and their invigilation timetable not necessarily students. Also, in order for strike action to be effective it needs to be at a time when SLT is forced to listen and engage in meaningful communication with the union.
Danny 13 May 2026 When is it the right time to strike! Protecting learners also means protecting the staff who teach and support them. If workload and crucial services are cut, this makes provision unsustainable. Staying silent doesn’t protect students—it delays a bigger problem. In Solidarity with all those out this week.
Frustrated lecturer 14 May 2026 We need to focus on the main issue, workload. A lot of FE teachers burn out and leave the profession early because they care about students but the workload has become unmanageable, e.g.when learning support assistants and mental health counsellors are cut. There is a recruitment crisis in FE. These teachers care about saving the FE sector
SCOOTER Shirloe 14 May 2026 As a UCU member surely the issue is with 4eal wage decline, not employing support for students. Why don’t you ask the bosses on higher wages to explain the lack of support for staff ir would they take a wage cut in real terms?
Sofs 14 May 2026 Striking is a last resort and deeply regrettable, it only happens when repeated negotiations fail despite compromise from UCU and we are limited as to when we can. It is very sad that teachers have to resort to this for the management to make any compromises at all, it could easily be avoided. I am not sure when a good time to strike is to be honest, I feel it would have impacted the students more negatively last term whilst covering the syllabus rather than when they are sitting the exam. It’s never ideal though, although losing teachers due to burnout has a worse effect and will affect future generations of students which really concerns us . As does the lack of mental health support and learning support due to cuts and pastoral care due to heavy admin burden and long hours. We aren’t allowed to invigilate our own subjects. We will still be there to support them during the rest of the exam period and would dearly love to be there now.
SCOOTER Shirloe 14 May 2026 Strange that those saying they oppose the strike do so anonymously! Why not use your name. There is no hostility herein. Would be good if you prove who you actually are!
Duncan Moore, UCU national executive. 15 May 2026 Poor form for the management to announce huge numbers of redundancies in the run up to exams, when students most need their teachers to be present and focused on their success; as if there is any appropriate time to do that. What are the staff supposed to do? Roll over to have their tummies tickled, and get ready to sign on the dole? Solidarity with staff at Capital City College Group.
Senior Lecturer 13 May 2026 Many young people arrive in FE having experienced disrupted schooling and significant barriers that still remain. FE is a second chance and having got that chance they are let down from the very people who at this important time, should be giving them that one last push so that they can advance into jobs or HE. I cannot see how management can be to blame, I would rather them look at the UCU reps who are calling for this and what it is they are gaining from this. And it is not good enough to justify it by having the local MP turn up and say something for 5 mins and link it to an international issue. Please put the learners first!
SCOOTER Shirloe 14 May 2026 Government and the bosses are at fault. 15 years of reducing what we spend on education. Like blaming nurses for the up to recent failings in NHS. Workers in UK are being undermined. Many lecturers are working 60hr weeks. They deserve better abd should stand by them. Would some on here take reductions in real terms in wages and student support for mental health etc
Sofs 14 May 2026 UCU reps have nothing to gain from this, rather pay to lose. Teachers are deeply concerned about the effect cuts and increased workload have on students and management are reluctant to address this. I agree FE students are amongst the most vulnerable members of the community and urgently need this support and courses to remain consistent.
Pips 13 May 2026 As a parent, this is simply not acceptable. This college seems to be plagued by strike after strike, with students repeatedly caught in the middle. It is deeply disappointing that the same staff who say they are there to support learners are also disrupting the exam experience of those very learners at one of the most important and stressful times in their education. Industrial action during exam periods sends the wrong message and places unnecessary anxiety and uncertainty on students who have worked hard all year. Learners should never become collateral damage in ongoing workplace disputes. I have heard repeatedly that year after year there are strikes at CCC, despite different management teams trying to resolve issues. At some point, serious questions have to be asked about whether the underlying problem lies solely with management, or whether there is a broader cultural issue among sections of staff when industrial action becomes the default response to every disagreement. Students deserve stability, support and an uninterrupted education; especially during exams. Looking forward to seeing the local MPs make their now-traditional 5-minute cameo appearance on the picket line; just enough time for a few carefully angled photos holding the “Solidarity” sign, a quick smile for the camera, and then… poof… mysteriously disappearing until the next photo opportunity. Students revising for exams: still there. Parents worrying about disruption: still there. Politicians and CCC ‘highly dedicated’ teachers after the Instagram shot: “Our work here is done. Let’s head to the pub now and have a beer on the tax payers money”
Mel 13 May 2026 For teachers, striking is always a last resort. It is the final option when no one is listening and when delaying tactics continue to be used instead of meaningful engagement. I also want to repeat my earlier point: if learners and parents expect teachers to somehow wave a magical wand at this time of the year and guarantee that learners pass their exams in the next couple of weeks, then some serious questions need to be asked. As a learner, what have you been doing up until now in class or college? Why is the focus on learning and revision only now? And as a parent, what have you been doing up until now? Why were you not checking in on your child’s progress and learning journey? How can four days of striking suddenly disrupt learners when the curriculum has already been delivered and the final step now is simply sitting the exams!
SCOOTER Shirloe 14 May 2026 It’s a pity people are affected by strikes but staff are being put upon more and more. We need to show young people that when thet enter their career they are not there to satisfy unfair workloads etc
Debbie Harry 14 May 2026 Firstly, the teaching year is over. If students are in need of teaching at this stage, they’ve left it too late. Secondly, lecturers earn as little as £28,000 per year. I don’t know how anyone survives in London on such low wages, given the cost of living. Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of this college is on a salary package estimated to be as high as £266,000 per annum – and the eleven members of the management team are taking home collectively between £1.2M and £1.5M per annum. If we don’t even value our teachers enough to pay them a wage they can live on, who is going to educate the next generation of our young people? A cheap point about going to the pub. They are entitled to spend their earned income in the same way everyone else in society does.
GT 14 May 2026 As an FE teacher this line of argument worries me. A student can work hard all year, attend lessons and do well in mocks and assessments, but still find the help offered by teachers in the last few days crucial. Likewise, we’re dealing with young people with a plethora of circumstances and need (some of whom may not have attended or worked as hard for a variety of reasons ) who may also benefit from support days before an exam. All students deserve professional support from teachers at this crucial time of year.
Senior Lecturer 14 May 2026 I completely disagree, last minute intervention provided by teaching staff is crucial, it is not good enough to say I have delivered the required GLH and then good luck! No, a teacher will be there up for the build up to the first exam, in between the papers and beyond. And it is not as you say simply sitting the exam. It is about the learner being prepared, ready, calm and having a teacher available for any last minute questions.
SCOOTER Shirloe 14 May 2026 So you agree to do nowt as real wages decline and support of students declines? Simple question – we shouldnt stand up for a living wage and better support of students. The last 15 years has been one of underfunding is that what you agree with? Another simple question
GT 15 May 2026 I don’t think it’s a case of doing nothing. By the sounds of things this dispute has been going on most the year, so choosing this time to strike specifically to impact students during their exams seems particularly worrying. Being completely honest the tensions between SLTs and staff over pay and conditions is as old as time and will continue to be in the future. A student sitting their exam this week with support from their teachers impact their life for the better right here and now. Strikes unfortunately seem to be a fact of life in FE today (not a value judgement just a fact) but as a student why would you choose to enrol at a college next year where they know staff have gone on strike at arguably the most crucial time of year for them? Strategically this sounds like a misjudgement to me
Mary 14 May 2026 As the other commenter has said, by this stage of year, the teaching & preparation for exams has already happened. In fact, teachers don’t tend to invigilate exams. My understanding is that the teachers striking are fighting for support for their students. Their demands centre around more learning support staff, more mental health support ( the college cut counselling & well -being provision for students) and more time with students in tutorial to support them on a pastoral basis. These are far from self-interested demands which, let’s remember, they are losing pay in their fight for.
GT 14 May 2026 Hi Mary, Teachers don’t moderate their own exams, and I agree that staff advocating for better support for their learners and colleagues is admirable. However, that’s why I find it genuinely staggering that teachers who want their students to achieve their best would choose exam season to withdraw support? Holistically the days before, on and between exams can be crucial to a young persons success over the exam season. This is precisely the time a quick intervention, phone call home or last minute word of encouragement can help change a young persons life. I don’t think that opinion is in any way controversial and I’d like to hear from a teacher who thinks they don’t or can’t make that positive impact over the exams period. Whatever the dispute is between staff and senior leaders, and I’m sure there are two sides to every story, it’s very sad its students who through no fault of their own are paying the price.
Peter Shirlow 14 May 2026 The bosses are disappointed????? We are all disappointed with a sector, that is critical to jobs and investments, that is constantly underpaying staff but expected them to do more. Leaders and politicians who devalue academics and teachers snd then state they are Disappointed when people stand up for their self-worth and value!
A lecturer 14 May 2026 Strikes are a last resort and always with the learners in mind! How can stressed, burnt out and overworked teachers deliver engaging lessons when increasing amounts of time are dedicated to non-teaching and learning tasks?! Students actually do understand this! Capital City College are in a restructuring process, which means getting rid of staff so those who remain would take on the bulk of their workload! All in the name of reducing defficit as if we are dealing with a private company instead of an educational institution. In order for management to listen, pressure must be applied when it is meaningful not when it is convinient to them.
ShauvanaMcPrick 14 May 2026 Oh wow!!! I have read through all the comments here, but the one from “Mel” who I presume is a teacher; surprised me the most. In many ways, it sums up why some feel unions are no longer putting learners first. To quote Mel: “As a learner, what have you been doing up until now in class or college? Why is the focus on learning and revision only now?” Blaming learners in this way feels deeply concerning. As a student myself, knowing that some teachers may think like this genuinely worries me and I imagine it would worry many parents too so perhaps stay away from such institutions. Surely the focus should be on supporting students, especially when concerns are being raised, rather than shifting blame onto them? It raises serious questions about culture and accountability. Given these attitudes, how did the college receive a “Good” rating in its last inspection? Perhaps an urgent inspection is needed.
Debbie Harry 14 May 2026 I don’t think Mel is blaming learners at all. But the college management is definitely blaming the teachers. I expect teachers will continue to make themselves available to students in need – in the same way that they do for the rest of the year.
Okei 15 May 2026 Mel’s passage can be interpreted as directly blaming learners (and parents) because of the language choices, framing, and allocation of responsibility. Here’s the reasons (I didn’t say it but 5 different AI platforms and 1 Higher Education verified AI say that : 1. It shifts responsibility away from the strike and onto learners The writer minimizes the impact of the strike: “How can four days of striking suddenly disrupt learners…” This frames disruption as unlikely or exaggerated, implying that if learners are affected, the problem lies elsewhere — namely, with the learners themselves rather than the industrial action. 2. It uses rhetorical questions that imply fault These lines are accusatory in tone: “As a learner, what have you been doing up until now in class or college?” “Why is the focus on learning and revision only now?” These are not neutral questions seeking information. They are rhetorical questions that suggest: learners have not been working hard enough, learners have delayed revision, and learners are partly responsible if they struggle in exams. The implied message is: “If you had been paying attention and preparing properly, a few days of strike action would not matter.” 3. It explicitly questions parents’ behaviour The statement: “What have you been doing up until now? Why were you not checking in on your child’s progress…” places responsibility on parents for not monitoring education closely enough. This reads as a form of parental blame, suggesting negligence or lack of involvement. 4. It constructs a deficit narrative about learners The phrase: “expect teachers to somehow wave a magical wand…” portrays learners and parents as having unrealistic expectations and being passive or dependent, rather than acknowledging legitimate concerns about disruption close to exams. 5. It ignores structural/contextual factors The argument assumes: the curriculum has been fully delivered, all learners are equally prepared, revision is solely the learner’s responsibility. But this overlooks realities such as: unequal learning gaps, disrupted teaching over time, learners who rely heavily on classroom support, anxiety caused by exam timing. Because these contextual factors are largely dismissed, the statement can feel like it is individualising blame (“you should have worked harder”) rather than recognising systemic issues. In short The passage is seen as directly blaming learners because it: Questions learners’ effort and preparation, Questions parents’ involvement, Downplays the strike’s impact, and Frames poor outcomes as a consequence of learner/parent behaviour rather than circumstances.
Mel 15 May 2026 Do you have any thoughts of your own or you just rely on AI to do your thinking for you?
Mel 15 May 2026 Do you have any thoughts of your own or you just rely on AI to do your thinking for you?
Altar Mel 15 May 2026 Do you have any thoughts of your own or you just rely on Union to do your thinking for you?
Mel 15 May 2026 I think that may be you are misunderstanding the point being made. Asking learners what they have been doing up until now is not about blaming them — it’s a genuine question, especially at this stage of the academic year. Learning is an active process which develops over the academic year and not just in the last couple of sessions before exams. By this point in the academic year the curriculum has been delivered, mock exams have taken place, revision workshops have been provided, and multiple online and paper resources have been shared to support independent study and revision. As teachers, our focus is on preparing students throughout the entire academic year, not just in the final lessons before an exam. A “Good” Ofsted rating is always positive, of course and it reflects the work that we all put in from admin staff, teaching and SLT; but our priority is whether students have been supported consistently and are exam-ready overall; and having burnout and overworked teachers does not serve our students, college or education as a whoke That is where the real focus should be. For context as well, the UCU strike action only directly affected one exam, so it’s important to keep the impact in proportion.
Debbie Harry 14 May 2026 It’s such a worn out move by management to blame teachers. Whilst the CEO earns a salary in the region of 10 times that of the starting salary of a teacher. £28,000 doesn’t go far in London these days.
Jack 14 May 2026 I have worked at CCC for almost 8 years and I agree that the workload in FE, and most education roles is huge. However striking is not the answer, its and old fashioned tactic that only in a very few cases has the desired impact. I would like to answer a few questions first being: as teachers we would have had approx. 30 weeks of teaching/input by now- so our jobs in terms of delivering the knowledge/skills required to sit the exams is done – Really, if you believe this then honestly teaching is not the role for you!. I would assume you are the very same teachers that gripe and moan that students are difficult or haven’t attended because the student has adapted to the way you teach – the same way you have been teaching for 20 years probably. Truth is they are probably board and feel like they don’t belong. 30 weeks – no chance!. Exam periods bring on high levels of anxiety for students, those that may have not been engaging in education but willing to sit exams and those that just have anxiety would not walk past a picket line to go to an exam! so then your line is directly impacting on students, Invigilation shortages due to strike also mean exams do not start or run smoothly again impacting directly on students. In my opinion the leadership do listen however this cannot always happen at the time the unions want it- then they are told they don’t listen or play ball. The bottom line is your strike will have had very little impact on the group as a whole but a huge one on students so well done you! I was there when we had to deliver balanced budgets, had no money. The college still gave staff an industry leading 5% pay rise, leading the way in FE and has done since. lets keep it real you all want more money not more staff. For staff that are committed and actively support students way past 30 weeks the group has been supportive. You are the minority so either put up with it or move on. your not wanted here.
SCOOTER Shirloe 14 May 2026 Old fashioned. Striking protected pensions, gained some pay awards and ended the erosion of conditions. Are you also a supporter of 15 years of cutbacks in education? They are striking to support students and how to help them. No one should jog on because of long-term underfunding
Sofs 14 May 2026 We will be there for the next 8 weeks and the majority of their exams, we are devastated to miss these 4 days, we are still talking to them and supporting them. I have taught in FE for 25 years and never complained about the students and prepare all my lessons from scratch, routinely work late into the night, weekends, and during leave time. There is a huge disparity between FE pay and school teachers pay and a much bigger one between teachers and senior management. However this strike is about workload which we have repeatedly tried to meet management about. We are very worried about burnout and teachers leaving, which results in students having no teacher or course which is very upsetting, I have witnessed this every year. We stay because we are passionate about FE and supporting vulnerable learners and are extremely dedicated to them. I agree striking should be unnecessary, it is strictly a last resort in order to appeal to an increasingly remote and well renumerated senior management.
A teacher 14 May 2026 That’s a bit nasty. Why start attacking your fellow teachers? They are your colleagues and I’m sure, actually, you respect them and know they care about their students. They also mentored you and taught you to teach. The strike isn’t about a pay rise, so please get your facts rights. It’s about workload – that which prevents teachers from actually teaching. Let’s all continue to support each other and our students, and fight for an increase in investment we can all agree is needed.
Emma 14 May 2026 I work in business support at the college, as I walked past the picket line, staff were smiling at students and saying good luck. Not sure that caused any student anxiety. Students often don’t turn up to class because of family issues, transport issues, financial problems and so on – that’s what we deal with all the time when talking to students. So not sure it’s really appropriate to say its students being bored with their teachers – also touch of ageism in your comment. Not sure that is really needed. UCU members told me, they put in the workload demands in November- so there has been a lot of time to resolve these issues. Hardly out of the blue! Also do you work at a different CCC to me? I got a 4% pay rise. That was what the AoC recommended – so not really industry leading, just the recommended standard! As a teacher, please be mindful of your written communication.
Danny 14 May 2026 What gets lost in these comment threads is what FE staff and unions actually do. Unions are not some external troublemaker — it is lecturers, support staff and professionals who care deeply about learners. FE staff routinely give unpaid time: staying late to support struggling students, marking at home, answering emails outside contracted hours, chasing attendance, supporting anxious learners, helping adults rebuild confidence after difficult life experiences, and often doing far more than the job description says. That commitment is not just for 16–18 learners. FE changes lives for adults returning to education, parents retraining, unemployed learners rebuilding confidence, ESOL learners, those with SEND, and people getting a second chance. Unions exist because staff need protection in a sector that increasingly feels corporate, data-driven and detached from classroom reality. Unions support staff with: workload challenges unfair disciplinary or sickness procedures redundancies and redeployment discrimination and workplace bullying concerns health & safety issues defending pay, pensions and conditions ensuring proper consultation rather than top-down decisions This is not about being anti-management. It is about wanting sustainable education. The reality is FE has become a sector with huge staff turnover, burnout, and experienced professionals leaving because goodwill is constantly relied upon while strategic decisions are made far from the classroom. Staff are not numbers on a spreadsheet. They are the people holding FE together.
Ann 15 May 2026 We are not wanted? We should move on? Are you going to find new lecturers to replace us? Where and how will you recruit them?
Sofs 14 May 2026 Striking is always a last resort, teachers and UCU have made it very clear that they are completely willing to meet management to resolve any issues, we have been available all year to do this but meetings have routinely been cancelled or re scheduled leaving us with no other option. We have waited all year to give management as many chances as possible to resolve our concerns rather than jump to strike action so sadly this is the only time. Teachers care deeply for their students and are very upset to be put in this position but can’t in all conscience allow vulnerable students to continue to be let down. We are desperate for negotiations to work and have been prepared to compromise significantly but to no avail CCC has been subject to devastating cuts to courses, learning support services and mental health provision over the last few years. The work load is simply unsustainable with teachers working way past their contracted hours and becoming burnt out. There is a crisis of FE teachers leaving the profession and a failure to attract specialist teaching staff. This has resulted in cancelled classes and courses with no teachers for long periods of time. Teaching is treated as almost secondary to data collection and supporting students who indeed often have very specific needs and are here through difficult circumstances. FE teachers care deeply about their students which is why they accept lower pay and longer hours. Unfortunately teachers also often have to take on management responsibilities as the senior managers are very remote, often based at different buildings. Students rarely or never meet the top layer of management. Fe has also been subject to ill thought out re-structures which involve vulnerable students moving across London to complete courses. Teachers are not consulted on this in any meaningful way and many of the new hubs make no sense to teachers or learners. This inevitably leads to a drop in numbers and cuts in provision prompting further redundancies. As someone who cares deeply about FE, and the opportunities it provides to the most disadvantaged groups, it is devastating to see the constant erosion of provision, the loss of dedicated teachers and the chaos caused by remote leadership.
A teacher 14 May 2026 Teachers at CCC are absolutely dedicated to their students and continue to support them throughout this exam period. The exams continue for the next four weeks, and teachers will be there to continue to support them. But who is supporting the teachers? We are not metric units on spreadsheets – and neither are our young people. Cutting vital support services like mental health and learning support – as CCC management have done – has had a hugely damaging impact on our young peoples’ ability to succeed. Why have managers cut these vital support services? Why? This is what ‘workload’ means: the load of work that teachers do – on top of teaching – that managers save money by not investing in. We need investment in support services for our young peoples’ Further Education. This is what teachers are calling for. Sometimes the only way to be seen, and heard, is from a picket line with a placard. Remember, teachers pay to strike: IE. when you strike, you don’t get paid. Teachers and support staff are losing four days pay right now. That is a very tough decision for them to make. So maybe this is important. Maybe they are saying something they really need everyone who cares about our young people to hear? Managers, listen to us: children and young people are not metric units of cost. Staff are not metric units of waste. We are human beings working and learning together, supporting each other to thrive. This is what teachers are fighting for. Investment and support for our young people. We are not a business, we are a place of education.
Liz 15 May 2026 No one doubts that many teachers at CCC are dedicated to their students, and no one is denying that workload pressures or cuts to support services are serious concerns. However, repeatedly striking during critical periods raises an important question: who is ultimately paying the price? The answer is often the learners. If the argument is that young people are not “metric units,” then surely their exam preparation, continuity of learning, and stability should matter too. FE students are often among the most vulnerable — many are retaking qualifications, balancing work, caring responsibilities, or facing barriers to education. Disruption affects them disproportionately. Teachers losing pay to strike is, of course, a difficult choice but it is still a choice. Students do not get a choice when lessons are cancelled, coursework support is delayed, or exam preparation is interrupted. The frustration around cuts should be directed at leadership and funding structures, but there also needs to be accountability for the impact of industrial action. Supporting young people means showing up for them consistently, especially during exam season. Education is not a business. Yes agreed. But nor can it function effectively when students become collateral damage in an ongoing dispute. Protecting learners should come first.
GT 15 May 2026 Reading through the comments from staff I don’t doubt there are genuine concerns that need addressing, and insults are totally unecessary. I still struggle with a few things about industrial action around exams though; If teachers are striking but still offering support to students, how is the strike effective? Surely it’s the withdrawal of support to students which is being leveraged against the senior leadership team to come back to negotiate? If a strike is called but has 0% impact on learner outcomes why would this move SLT? This may sound brutal but I think the logic is sound. If staff are committed to learner success, why strike at one of the most crucial times for a student actually being successful? It seems contradictory to support learners for years then withdraw support in the window when that support can be most needed? Either staff being present and available in exam time have no positive impact on students, meaning the strike is not effective. Or it does have an impact on students, undermining the years staff have put in getting students ready for this very moment? Stratigically it seems a strange time to take industrial action if the strike wants to gain support from students, parents and media to put pressure on SLT? It’s not ideal, but industrial action does have a political aspect to it in terms of winning support- and I don’t know how many people would take a reasonable view that striking in such a crucial period is fair on students? I’m not trying to be obstinate or take pot shots at fellow teachers who I know are under pressure, just really struggling to see how this strike action is appropriate at this time. Of course senior managers must be challenged and held to account if working conditions are as bad as is being disclosed on this forum- I just can’t see how this action helps anyone?
A teacher 15 May 2026 You might not ‘see’ how action helps anyone, but actually – of course – even senior managers quietly admit that these pushbacks are hugely beneficial to students, staff and the flourishing of the College as a whole. The majority of teachers and support staff at CCC are union members. Whereas middle managers are often not unionised and are too vulnerable, as individuals, to challenge detrimental and short-sighted decisions. Through collective action, we can be the necessary voice to find less harmful solutions – communicating the detrimental impact of restructures and de-investment in established practice. Strikes have the ‘unseen’ effect of getting everyone around the table for often very productive and solution-focused interventions. During these meetings – that are the ‘hidden’ side of the more visible strike action – we often find a middle way. Solutions can be found! Please be reassured that, while never comfortable for anyone, action does help and are a sign of a healthy, solution-focused, hopeful College. Everyone will be back with the students next week, to continue preparing for the exams and supporting them to achieve. Hopefully, having supported senior management to reconsider damaging decisions, and to invest in the future of our young people – designing a supportive education for the next year and beyond.
Ann 15 May 2026 A few examples of the way working conditions have been degraded. Let’s be concrete here. I started working in the college 32 years ago. I has 1 tutorial of 25 students with 2 hours to look after them. I loved being a tutor. Now tutors have 1 hour! So in order to fill their timetables they are given 2 groups. How can you supervise up to 50 students with only 2 hours? I am so glad I m not a tutor now. Yet they are vital. Courses have had cuts in hours, so teachers have to deliver the same content in less time (new teachers are not always aware of this). To make up for loss of contact hours, some teachers then have to teach more courses, you have more students, more marking etc. Admin staff have been spread thin, having to work across sites, instead of supporting a particular team. Curriculum managers therefore have lost admin support. They themselves have been “restructured” so many times. Their conditions have been so degraded and their pay diminished. I feel mymanager’s pain. They are on barely more money than a Full time lecturer now. Some (I know 2) have tried to go back to a teaching job, but have been refused (probably because it would be very hard to find someone to replace them!). I have absolutely loved working for the college and I know how dedicated we teachers are. We care deeply about our students, but we care about ouselves too. We have to. We can’t afford or be expected to be completely selfless. But there is a point when our fight is also in the interest of the students.. I have always found this job stressful but it has become worse. In 32 years I have spent all my lunch hours, many weekends and holidays preparing and marking (difficult to do that during working week). I feel burnt out. If CEOs were as concerned about the students’ experience as they claim to be, they would lead differently. They would listen to teachers’ concerns. I absolutely hate striking, but I am grateful to the union and the way they have fought for our conditions and to keep our pay going (still well below inflation over last decades). It is not a bad thing for management to invigilate an exam. They get to experience our job a little. I personally find invigilating very stressful. Next week teachers will be back supporting their students the way they always do. I love FE and there is so much more I could say about some of the absurd and wasteful ways FE is and has been managed over the last decades but I have some preparing, marking and admin to do.
GT 15 May 2026 Thank You to ‘A teacher’ and ‘Ann’ and for your responses. Having worked widely in FE I recognise your description of working conditions eroding, staff workload increasing and the stress this is placing on colleagues across the sector, and in fairness most commentors here have acknowledged this too. I also respect the arguments you make in general for the point of industrial action and how it can be effective. I think what is causing more impassioned commentary than many other industrial action cases are this is happening during learners’ final revision and exams which is a critical period for them. If industrial action is always a ‘last resort’, then surely industrial action whilst learners are doing final revision and sitting their exams should be the ‘last resort of the last resort.’ I understand some contributors will disagree with the importance of this period, but I think it can be crucial to learner success. E.g. missing out on content earlier in the year can be rectified (because of the work of teachers), missing out on support on the day before or on an exam can be devastating for some learners. I truly do believe in our ability as teachers to positively impact learners in this period and help change their lives. As others have said, this does seem to make the learners collateral damage through no fault of their own in a particularly critical moment- I think that’s the distinction here. Given the seriousness of taking industrial action whilst learners are doing final revision and sitting their exams, I think it’s a good thing this is being discussed and debated (mostly) respectfully here. The role of the college SLT, Governors, Unions and teaching staff will obviously be part of an important debate in your college and community. I wish you the best and hope you can come to a just outcome
Senior Lecturer 15 May 2026 It has been a good discussion and it is very clear that not all teachers are in favour of strike action. I have delivered in school and it would be out of the question to strike during the examination period and then look those same students and parents in the eye. I find this method of action ill thought out and damaging the future of the next generation. This generation were born into austerity and deserve every extra support possible that can be provided, especially during exam period.
Colin 15 May 2026 Spot on Senior Lecturer. ‘Senior’ not just by number of years of teaching in FE, but should also reflect thinking process. You are a good example of the sort of teachers FE need, but rare to retain hence I can see why you can get a job in school or anywhere outside FE. Many (over 98%) FE teachers will never be able to find non-FE job anywhere. Union needs to spend money training these FE teachers on how to get properly skilled. After all, it used to be known as ‘FE and Skills’ back in the days. Skills development should not just be for students, teachers in FE desperately need it.
Sofs 16 May 2026 Precisely, which is why we are taking action to prompt management to listen to the need for more support for learners, we have tried consultation with no results, we just hear that the cuts are necessary. We are often at a loss when it comes to referrals for support for vulnerable students. If management would listen and make compromises this would not be necessary. Teachers are not asked for their input in decision making.
Richard 16 May 2026 This is one of a million tiny cuts that has made every public service poorer to the detriment of students, patients, commuters etc The only group unaffected are Senior leadership teams whose salaries have gone from £80-100k to £200-300k under austerity. A reward for managing two decades of decline in our services. I teach and am managed by a vertical chain that seems to keep growing: a senior curriculum manager (most dumped on), a deputy director, a director, a deputy borough principal, a borough principal and a CEO. Each is doing something useful but the hierarchy of control is expanding to keep the pressure on those at the coal face as more and more resources are removed. With more managers comes more deadlines, more tasks delegated, more requests for spreadsheets so they can monitor etc as they all try to climb the ladder and justify their roles. Few points: The national average result for 16-19 year olds sitting the hated and compulsory maths exam held last week is just 17% achieving a grade 4 or above. CCG actually buck that trend by a quite a margin. 83% of students are left on the scrap heap. Many repeat the exam and the mocks every year and leave with nothing. Some have sat at least eight formal maths exam sittings between school and three years at college. There are 3 exams per sitting totalling 4.5 hours. So anyone worried about strikes impacting students is looking in the wrong place. It’s not the right qualification, should not be compulsory and students are suffering. No one is listening to them. FE had been cut to the bone. Two decades of cuts. Additional support has been gutted. No dsylexia assessments are made, no specialist support. Mental health cut when mental health problems among young people is soaring for many reasons. Teachers pay has gone down 25-40% in real terms. My wages gave me more spending power on my first day of teaching twenty years ago than they do today in real terms. The adult education colleges provide has lost £2bn funding with 7 million fewer courses per year at a time when millions have reading and maths skills of an 11 year old. Any course that was interesting, enriching or lead to a career is long gone. Access to Higher Education was killed by loans. As a union rep it’s frustrating. We need a national intervention as to restore our service and proper binding national bargaining to address staff pay, conditions and the recruitment crisis to the sector. But also to address the Wild West culture of incompetent senior leadership’s who wreck colleges as the Warwick set at CCG are doing. Look at the Colleges that have no strikes. Pay and conditions are much lower, bullying management culture rife and the students have a far worse education. City and Islington was a path breaking first class institution and is going to the dogs. Most of the teaching staff are still the same people that were there twenty years ago with the same commitment to education. They are not the problem here.
Richard 16 May 2026 I want to extend my support to colleagues at CCG who took strike action this week. My union branch went on strike during the exams a few years ago. It had no negative impact on the students whatsoever. If anything the opposite, we chatted to students while they queued outside and greeted them when the exam ended – as we normally do. If anything that helped calm their nerves. The College leadership frequently say of strikes that they make no impact and it’s “business as usual”. This is simply not true but is harder to style it out when teachers are on strike during exams as evidenced by this discussion. Few points: Teachers were not the main workforce for exam invigilation, previously this role was performed by professional invigilators usually local retired folk. Their work was cut and added to teachers. Economically that means to save money the colleges doubled the per hour cost of invigilation and lost hundreds of hours of prep time. In the same way hospitals cut cleaning staff budgets and transfer that load on to the nurses. The fact teachers are on strike during exams and this is a problem is because invigilation is another example of “it’s just one more thing” that got added to our workload.
Sofs 16 May 2026 Added to that, it has been a good discussion and hopefully we can find a solution as I think we do all want the same thing, more input from teachers and the time to best support students. Disagreement is mainly about how we get there!