Staff at Kirklees College have voted to accept a pay offer and pull out of the England-wide college strike action.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) were due to go on strike this week but negotiated a deal that will include a 4,5 per cent pay award for all staff, with an additional 0.5 per cent for lecturers on a scale point 34 and alignment with the Real Living Wage.

It was also agreed to commit to further negotiations and improvements to their existing workload agreement by April 2026.

It was also agree to potential time off in lieu for open days, parents’ evenings and recruitment events.

Kirklees College has two main sites in Dewsbury - the Springfield Sixth Form Centre and the Pioneer Higher Skills Centre - and one in Huddersfield.

placeholder image — Kirklees College has two main sites in Dewsbury - the Springfield Sixth Form Centre and the Pioneer Higher Skills Centre - and one in Huddersfield.

The deal leaves 17 colleges in the England wide dispute over fair pay and conditions, with strike action taking place at other colleges tomorrow (Friday, January 16).

UCU is urging management at the remaining colleges to come back to the table and make fair pay offers that help close the pay gap between school and college teachers so it can call off the remaining strike action.

UCU - alongside sister unions NEU, GMB, UNISON and Unite - is calling for a New Deal for FE, including pay parity with schoolteachers, national workload agreements and a binding national bargaining framework.

General secretary Jo Grady said: 'I want to congratulate our members at Kirklees College for winning a pay award that helps bring their salaries into line with their counterparts in schools.

"It is down to the determination and incredible solidarity of our members which shows what can be achieved when workers unionise and stand together."