NEU dispute and strike action at Access Creative College

That this House stands in solidarity with members of the National Education Union taking strike action at Access Creative College; believes that public money intended for education and student support should not be diverted away from frontline teaching, student services, and staff pay and conditions; notes the pay disparity between Further Education teachers and schoolteachers and their lack of access to school holiday entitlements and Government pay retention and workforce support schemes contributing to the recruitment and retention crisis in the sector; further notes the increasing role of private companies and Independent Training Providers (ITP) in Further Education; is concerned that this ongoing dispute is impacting staff wellbeing and undermining the quality, stability, and safety of education for students; is further concerned about the lack of transparency and democratic accountability in these private companies and ITPs’ use of public funds; therefore calls on the Access Creative College management to enter into negotiations to find a resolution to the dispute; and further calls on the Government to review the role of private providers in Further Education, to strengthen oversight and accountability on the use of public fund and address systemic inequalities in pay, conditions, and funding for Further Education staff.