Co-optee vacancies
Being a co-optee helps amplify your voice within the union. It offers you the opportunity to engage with NAHT's mission to represent our members at a national level and influence government policy.
Furthermore, co-optees often find this role provides valuable professional development in its own right, as well as offering useful insights and knowledge that they can take back to their school(s), their local networks and/or their wider working lives.
On 1 May 2025, NAHT is opening applications for the following co-optee seats on its committees and councils:
- Deputy/assistant heads sector council (x4)
- Early years sector council (x1)
- International committee (x2)
- Primary sector council x3
- SBL sector council (x4)
- Secondary sector council (x6)
- SEND and AP sector council (x4).
We are keen to ensure that our councils and committees reflect the make-up of our membership and therefore would particularly welcome applicants from underrepresented groups.
NAHT will strive, as far as is possible, to provide any reasonable adjustments required to ensure all members can fully engage with the role. This includes any adjustments you may need during both the application process and any subsequent tenure if successful. Please get in touch with NAHT governance and executive officer Adam Ives at adam.ives@naht.org.uk should you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, or if you have any questions relating to the accessibility of the role.
If you would like to apply for one of these co-optee seats, please complete the co-optee application form. The deadline for applications is 12 noon on Thursday 29 May 2025.
The process will involve creating a short statement on your reason for wanting to join the council/committee and the expertise you will be able to bring to it. Should you have any questions about the application process please contact NAHT governance and executive Officer Adam Ives at adam.ives@naht.org.uk.
About NAHT's national democracy
A key part of NAHT’s national democracy are our sector councils and standing committees, each specialising in a particular sector, role or area of NAHT work.
These provide a forum for our members to have their say about how we support them and what actions we take on their behalf. Meeting at least three times a year, the councils and committees help to steer and develop NAHT’s policy and campaigning priorities and ensure that our advice and guidance reflects the needs of our members. They also support the work of our organising and membership teams to provide member insight into NAHT work in areas such as recruitment or campaigns.
The role of co-optees
Co-optees provide councils and committees with specific knowledge, expertise, experience and/or skills relating to the remit of the council or committee and seek to articulate the views and experiences of the wider sector, role and/or area that they have been selected to represent.
Co-optees are invited to join a council or committee for an initial term of three years, with the opportunity to reapply for the position at the end of this term.
The majority of co-opted members sit on councils that typically meet three times a year, meaning that typically co-optees are out of school and/or work for a maximum of three days a year. The exact dates and locations will be communicated to you in advance through the council’s administrating officer.
Co-optees to all NAHT councils, committees and groups are encouraged to be proactive and visible representatives of the sector and/or role they represent, not just in the meetings themselves but throughout their tenure. This might include engaging in other opportunities to represent NAHT and the council, such as in meetings with representatives from respective government departments to discuss specific policy, or in supporting NAHT conferences or events, and in attending NAHT regional and national events, however these are completely voluntary.
In addition, co-optees may have the opportunity to engage in promoting the work of the council or committee through NAHT’s member communications, help to develop NAHT’s responses to governmental policies and consultations, and support NAHT’s press and media activity.
You can access full details of the role, expectations and work of the councils and committees in the co-optee agreement (members will need to be logged in to access this document).
Co-optees must be able to commit to three meetings a year and NAHT will cover reasonable travel expenses to attend meetings. Please get in touch with NAHT governance and executive officer Adam Ives at adam.ives@naht.org.uk should you have any questions about the roles or the application process.