NAHT was delighted to once again attend the TUC Women’s Conference, held in Bournemouth from 4 to 6 March 2026, as the first event in this year’s TUC equality conference series. With its powerful theme, #SmashingTheStatusQuo, the conference brought together women trade unionists from across the UK to champion change, challenge inequality and push forward the issues that disproportionately impact women in the workplace.

This year, NAHT was represented by five members from across our regions, each bringing frontline expertise as school leaders to national debates. Throughout the conference, our delegates spoke to motions, added an educational lens to key discussions and ensured the voices of women working in, and leading, schools were heard loud and clear.

Championing Women’s Rights Across the Union Movement

Across three energising days, delegates debated and endorsed a wide range of motions designed to improve the lives of women at work. Key areas included:

Driving fairness at work

• Campaign for gender-aware AI policies to prevent biased systems shaping future employment.
• Lobby for flexible work that supports gender equality and offers genuine choice to women balancing leadership and caring roles.
• Campaign for a statutory Equal Pay Regulatory and Enforcement Body to close the stubborn national pay gap.
• Take action to reduce the gender pension gap, which continues to leave many women financially disadvantaged in later life.
   

Strengthening protections for women

• Push for enhanced Statutory Maternity Pay, with the ambition of full pay throughout maternity leave.
• Raise awareness of misogyny, sexual harassment and sexual violence, including their impact on women workers and women in public life.
  Endorse training for managers on responding to harassment and abuse in community settings and at work.
   

Building solidarity and global equality

• Build alliances with feminist and anti racist movements to counter rising hate and division.
• Campaign for global education rights, recognising the transformative power of education for women and girls worldwide.
   

The 2026 conference reaffirmed the power of women organising together. NAHT delegates returned feeling energised, inspired and ready to continue driving change within their schools, our union and the wider movement. Their engagement strengthens NAHT’s ongoing commitment to championing gender equality, confronting discrimination wherever it appears and ensuring that women working in education have a strong, respected voice in shaping national policy and workplace rights.