TEACHERS went on a second day of strikes demanding more funding and pay for sixth-form schools.

Staff at Bhasvic in Hove and Varndean College in Brighton downed tools yesterday claiming the Government was not providing enough cash for colleges.

National Education Union members protested at the Clock Tower today alongside Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle.

Varndean physics teacher James Wye said he thought the Government was not listening to teachers’ concerns.

“Since 2010 we’ve lost about 20 per cent of our funding and the number of colleges has been shrinking,” he said.

“Per head, colleges get less funding than schools and universities.

“It makes no sense for students to decrease as they get older.

“It’s like the Government hasn’t thought about it.

“It’s a timebomb waiting to explode.”

Mr Wye said he wanted sixth-form funding to be a high-profile issue in the December General Election.

“Right now it’s really difficult to be heard,” he said.

“Colleges are fantastic for social mobility.

“Society is becoming more educated, so why are we not giving students a proper education and encouraging them to move up?

“We can’t have a world where the elite rules and everyone else doesn’t get a proper education. That’s not how the world works anymore.”

Kemp Town MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said many sixth-forms were at “breaking point”.

He said: “Haywards Heath College closed four years ago. If we lose any of the wonderful colleges in Brighton it would be a tragedy.

“We need to restore funding to sixth-form colleges because they are underfunded as they are.”

Labour MP Russell-Moyle said his party would boost funding to sixth-forms if it was elected in December.

“Sixth-forms should have the same funding as schools,” he added.

A spokesman for the National Education Union said yesterday’s strike action was necessary to “save the sector”.

“This will ensure future generations have the choice and opportunity for study that our local sixth-form colleges provide.”