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Strike by sixth form teachers after they miss out on pay increase

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Teachers have walked out from sixth form colleges after being excluded from a pay increase.

Strikes are affecting sixth forms across Hampshire namely Itchen College, Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, and Peter Symonds College in Winchester.

Jill Baker, a physics teacher at Peter Symonds, said: “We really regret withdrawing our labour today, it’s not what we want to do, but equally we want to secure the future of this high-performing college.”

Back in June, the government announced that teachers were to receive a 5.5% pay award to keep them above inflation, but teachers from independent sixth forms will not be receiving the increase.

Academies differ because they receive most of their funding from the central government, but independent sixth forms receive theirs from local governments.

Photographed by: Anviksha Patel

On the 28th of November, members of the NEU (National Education Union) marched on the Department of Education, with hundreds from sixth forms across the country coming for the event.

Daniel Kedebe, who is the NEU General Secretary said that he hopes the decision for sixth form teachers to miss out on the pay award was just an “oversight by the government” and that “it will be corrected quickly”.

The Department of Education (DOE) refused my offer to comment on the situation.

The strikes are yet to reach a resolution, as of today there has been no official statement by the Department of Education on the issue, leaving sixth form teachers in the dark.

There are more strikes planned following the lack of progress being made, with the 13th December and the 7-9th of January set to get the NEU Members back to the picket lines, unless a solution is agreed.

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Police hunt man who threw chair and threatened shoppers

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A man threw a chair and threatened bystanders in the centre of Gosport on Friday.

Police say the man, who was behaving aggressively, threw the chair on the ground and shouted threats at nearby shoppers before running away. No one was injured.

It happened just before noon, outside a Greggs Bakery on the High Street. 

Hampshire Police say the man was white, bald and in his late 40s. He was wearing a baseball cap and a grey hoodie. 

Officers are asking anyone who saw the incident to contact them.

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Police officers injured during anti-migration rally

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Twelve people were arrested after 350 anti-migrant protestors clashed with police overnight in Gosport following reports of a small boat landing in the area.
A small number of officers needed medical treatment following the protests near Walpole car park.
Assistant Chief Constable Simon Dodds said: “Violence and criminal damage have no part in peaceful protest, our position on this has been clear that we will investigate thoroughly and take robust action against anyone responsible.
“Our officers did not deserve to be assaulted as they worked incredibly diligently on Sunday to ensure the safety of everyone in the area.”
Police had banned face coverings and had issued a dispersal order ahead of the protests across Gosport.
Those arrested were held on suspicion of assaulting officers or being drunk and disorderly.
The protest marks an increase in tensions within the UK after protests at Portsmouth, Taunton, Basingstoke and Glasgow in recent months.
Gosport Reform UK councilor Paul Carter told GB News: “If you think about this last night, no one really knew what was happening… I think a lot of people are really worried.”

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Residents warned over closure of recycling centre

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People in Romsey are being warned that the town’s recycling centre will be closing for a month for repairs.

The closure of Casbrook recycling centre will take place from 12 October to 12 November.

The council says that repairs are essential to keep the site safe, after heavy vehicles damaged the tarmac beneath waste containers.

Councillor Kirsty North, Hampshire County Council’s deputy leader, said: “We are investing in essential improvements to preserve the surface of Casbrook HWRC (Bunny Lane) and ensure the facility continues to serve residents safely and effectively for many years to come.

“I thank residents for their patience during these works and confirm that capacity is available at nearby HWRCs to ensure residents that usually use Bunny Lane, can still dispose of their waste during this time.”

Locals have been advised to use alternative centres in Winchester and Eastleigh while the repairs take place.

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