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Equality diversity and inclusion

Our commitment 

NAHT is dedicated to promoting equality for all its members, and this commitment is enshrined in NAHT’s constitution. 

NAHT’s work on equality is overseen by our diversity and inclusion group, a sub-committee of NAHT’s national executive.

NAHT’s role

Our equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) work is centred around three aspects:

  1. Supporting our members as leaders: as school leaders, NAHT members are ideally positioned to create inclusive learning and working environments for all their pupils and staff, one which welcomes diversity and champions equality. NAHT’s role is to empower our members with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to do this effectively. 
     
  2. Supporting our members as individuals: we know members with certain protected characteristics face additional and/or specific challenges in their roles. As a Trade Union, our core purpose is protecting our members; whether proactively, for example campaigning to remove systemic inequities in the system, or reactively, aiding members who are experiencing particular issues in their workplace, through our representation and/or legal teams.
     
  3. As a democratic organisation: NAHT recognises that we are most effective in representing the views and needs of school leaders when we engage with all of our membership. We are therefore committed to ensuring our own democratic structures are inclusive and reflect the diversity of the educational professionals and learners that we serve.

NAHT’s equality networks

NAHT has three informal equality networks for members. These are led by members, for members.

Find out more about our networks, including how to join and planned meetings, by clicking on the links below. 

NAHT's EDI statements

Following a resolution at NAHT Annual Conference, we are developing a series of policy statements outlining NAHT’s views and commitments around equality, diversity and inclusion. These have been developed in conversations with NAHT’s equality networks, our diversity and inclusion group, and our national executive.

Click below to see our EDI statements:

Statements will continue to be reviewed and additional statements may be developed, as led by our membership.

Our statement of action and commitments on EDI in education for 2023/24

In September 2023, NAHT, alongside other key organisations working in the sector, outlined its new actions and commitments to help further equality, diversity and inclusion in education. Find out more and read our statement of action and commitments on EDI in education for 2023/24.

Resources

Advice and support

For more about the advice and guidance available from NAHT, along with resources to support members with EDI in their schools, see our EDI hub page.

TUC equality conferences

Every year, the TUC hosts a series of equality conferences that supplement the general work of TUC Congress. These conferences focus on supporting the advancement of issues that disproportionally impact minority groups. Find out more and how NAHT members can get involved.

Latest news and advice

NAHT members join the TUC Black Workers' Conference in 2024

NAHT was delighted to participate in the second of this year’s TUC equality conferences, TUC Black Workers' Conference, which took place in London from 26 to 28 April 2024. 

Every year, the TUC hosts a series of equality conferences that focus on supporting the advancement of issues that disproportionally impact minority groups. Second in this series was the TUC Black Workers' Conference, with a theme of #HereToStayHereToFight.

NAHT was represented by seven members from across our regions who voted on a range of motions across a plethora of areas put to the conference, all of which disproportionately impact Black workers.

Motion themes put to the conference included:

  • the disproportionate impact the minimum service level agreements proposal has on Black workers
  • calls for the introduction of ethnicity pay gap reporting
  • work to address the disproportionate disciplinary procedures faced by Black and ethnic minority workers
  • work to highlight the cost of living and the impact on Black workers’ pensions
  • calls to challenge hostile narratives and politics around migration and asylum
  • work to tackle health inequalities for Black workers
  • sexual harassment of Black women. 

TUC president Matt Wrack and TUC assistant general secretary Kate Bell addressed the conference, along with Patrick Roach, NASUWT general secretary and chair of the TUC anti-racism task force. Delegates also had the opportunity to join fringe discussions and wider networking sessions.

The conference was another huge success and NAHT's delegates left feeling inspired and energised. Speaking afterwards, NAHT delegate Shamshad Azad said: “The conference was amazing, there was so much to take away. It was good to network and learn about people's experiences and stories.”

Interested in attending TUC Black Workers' Conference in 2025?

If you'd like to get involved next year, register your interest by emailing policy@naht.org.uk.

 

First published 30 April 2024
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