TEACHERS at dozens of colleges across Britain walked out on strike yesterday against government cuts.

National Education Union (NEU) members in 25 colleges took to the pickets against Education Secretary Gavin Williamson’s £700 million shortfall in sixth-form funding.

A rally of hundreds of teachers also took place in central London.

Teachers claim that the shortfall has damaged the life chances of students, threatened the quality of education, and could lead to the closure of many colleges.

The union is demanding that Mr Williamson stop job losses, decrease class sizes and reverse cuts to teaching time.

NEU joint general secretary Kevin Courtney said: “Our sixth-form colleges and the staff who work in them have been hung out to dry by this government.

“Sixth-form colleges have always been a beacon of quality, but funding cuts have had a savage impact on pay, conditions and jobs and have driven far too many colleges towards merger or closure.”