Fears around unfunded pay rises, violence against teachers and the effects of planned SEND reforms will be key discussion points at this weekend’s NASUWT conference.
Members of the teaching union, which represents more than 250,000 teachers nationally, will meet at the ICC in Birmingham today for their first annual conference since trade unionist Matt Wrack took over as general secretary.
Wrack told a pre-conference briefing teacher pay and funding will be “one of the major aspects of debate”, and did not rule out the possibility the union could move beyond campaigning, towards a strike ballot.
Last year’s conference passed a motion for an “immediate” move to ballot if government failed to provide a fully funded pay rise.
1. NASUWT to mull industrial action
Wrack said the situation this year “is identical…in fact it’s probably worse”.
The DfE has recommended a 6.5 per cent pay rise over the next three years.
Yet a recent DfE report found schools could only afford a 2.7 per cent rise over the next two years, and would need to make more savings in order to afford a higher rise. The School Teachers’ Review Body’s final decision is thought to be imminent.
As the National Education Union (NEU) prepares to announce the outcome of an indicative ballot of its members, Wrack said an industrial dispute is “an obvious possibility” for NASUWT, “looking at the union’s previous decisions and the actual objective situation we face”.
He said unfunded pay rises would mean “further cuts in school budgets, and…further restructures, job losses” which would in turn exacerbate existing challenges around workload, excessive hours, and behaviour.
He said NASUWT must place pressure on MPs and ministers, and consider “all options, including the potential of industrial action”.
2. Calls for fully funded pay rise
NASUWT’s incoming president Mark Dickinson will address the conference this (Friday) morning, when he will warn the teaching profession is “on life support”, and call for a fully funded, above-inflation pay rise.
He will say many teachers are leaving due to “overwhelming” demands as “expectations from government, schools, parents, and society have increased, while resources have not.”
“The message to all governments is simple, a system that burns out its teachers will ultimately fail the children it is meant to serve.
“Schools should not be forced to cut staff, support services, or essential provision to cover the cost of a pay rise. Our fight is for fairness, for dignity, and for recognition.”
3. SEND reforms could exacerbate pressures
Planned SEND reforms are another key topic up for discussion. One motion will call for the NASUWT executive to develop briefing materials on the implications of planned EHCP changes, and support for those “asked to take on SEND responsibilities beyond their role”.
Wrack said a “big fear” is that the reforms could exacerbate workload pressures, especially if implemented without “sufficient resources”.
He said it was “certainly a possibility” this “would be part of a potential battleground”, if NASUWT moved to strike.
4. Calls for better reporting of violence against teachers
Another key topic of debate will be poor pupil behaviour, and the need for better mechanisms for reporting violent incidents.
A 2025 NASUWT report showed 40 per cent of respondents had experienced physical abuse or violence, and 80 per cent verbal abuse.
Meanwhile, a recent NFER report warned poor pupil behaviour is a key reason behind teachers leaving the profession.
Wrack said day-to-day incidents of violence and abuse against teachers “are at a shocking level, and much probably under-reported.”
He said a member of his family has regularly shown him injuries on her arms “from being bitten or punched in a primary school”.
While violence against other professionals such as paramedics and retail staff has been recognised, Wrack said is “hugely under-recognised” in teaching and “very uneven” in how it is dealt with.
“We have some schools who do deal appropriately, and we have, unfortunately, too many who do not.” He said some members have reported being discouraged from reporting incidents.
A conference motion will call on the NASUWT to campaign for a national statutory reporting system of physical violence at work, for all schools and colleges.
Another will call on the executive to lobby the Health and Safety Executive to “take action to address violence in schools”.
NASUWT’s conference takes place from Friday to Saturday (April 3 and 4).
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