Striking teachers from Staffordshire have taken their protest to London.

Members of the Tamworth branch of the National Union of Teachers walked out of five schools this week in protest over plans to close down the sixth forms of local secondaries and open a new sixth-form centre in their place.

They are also opposed to proposals to turn one of the schools into an academy sponsored by luxury hotel and restaurant company Rocco Forte. In addition, the company is in discussions about sponsorship of the sixth form.

After their walk-out this week, a delegation of 50 members travelled to London to lobby Rocco Forte’s headquarters in Mayfair.

Lynn Collins, the union’s regional secretary, said they would be asking the company to guarantee protection for teachers in their academy.

As The TES has previously reported, union members have staged several days of industrial action during recent months.

Ms Collins said: “Teachers will do whatever they can to ensure the young people of Tamworth receive the highest-quality education from teachers who are, in turn, treated fairly.” AB.