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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

Unpicking barriers to pay equality

At the end of 2021, NAHT launched a joint report Closing the Gender Pay Gap in Education: A leadership imperative. This report found that despite the existence of a broad national pay framework, men typically earn more than women regardless of school phase or structure – the more senior the position, the wider the gulf becomes. 

Due to the limited published data, it wasn’t possible to explore other factors, such as ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation, which may also impact on salary equity, although we know from other research that people with disabilities or those from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds can face additional pay penalties.

NAHT would like to use the findings and recommendations from the report to form the basis of a  virtual member roundtable, sharing experiences and unpicking what is needed to ensure that school leadership (and the journey to it) is valued appropriately and everyone is paid equitably for the work they do.

If you are an NAHT member and would like to take part in this session (see details below), please email policy@naht.org.uk.

Unpicking barriers to pay equality roundtable

  • Tuesday 1 February 2022 (10am-11.30am): Equal pay – gender, ethnicity, disability, LGBTQ+
First published 07 January 2022
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