Your membership. Your guide (2024)

WELCOME TO YOUR UNION

May I take this opportunity to warmly welcome you to NAHT, the school leaders’ union.

NAHT is the definitive voice of school leaders in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with more than 49,000 school professionals in membership.

Together, we make the case for school leaders and education as a whole, campaigning on key issues such as funding, pay, assessment and well-being to name but a few. We’re evidence-based and solutions-focused, and known by decisionmakers for our professional, yet candid, approach to securing change for members.

Beyond our campaigning work, we’re also focused on providing school leaders with the first-class membership experience they

deserve. From our specially designed CPD to our unrivalled advice service, we cover all aspects of school life. Our website has more support resources than any other education trade union, and our weekly newsletter is filled with invaluable links to information, advice and other opportunities for members.

Joining NAHT also gives you the chance to make a real difference in your local area, by getting involved with your branch or region. Our volunteers are central to our success, so please talk to your regional officer and they’ll point you in the right direction.

I want NAHT to remain at your side throughout your career as a school leader. Whatever you need—whether it’s personal development, specific help with a problem or protection while in your role—we’re your first phone call. And, if there’s something you need but you’re not sure we can help, please ask - if it’s about school leadership there’s a good chance we can.

Thank you once again for choosing NAHT. We’re thrilled to have you with us.

Best wishes

Paul Whiteman | General secretary

FIRST THINGS TO DO AS A MEMBER

So, you’ve joined NAHT… but where do you start?

There are many benefits to your NAHT membership and to help you work out where to start, here are twelve things we think you should do first. Grab a cup of tea, find a quiet spot and take five minutes to find out more.

1. REGISTER ON THE NAHT WEBSITE

If you joined online, you’ll already have a login for the NAHT website. However, if you joined us at an event or via one of our team, you’ll need to register online. Visit the NAHT website and under ‘membership’ select ‘manage your membership’. If you need help, email us at membersupport@naht.org.uk or call 0300 30 30 333.

2. CHECK YOUR DETAILS

After you’ve registered online, you can control your account and see all your details in ‘manage your membership’. It’s worth checking that these are correct and all your permissions are switched on, so we can share the latest news with you. If you need to change anything at any time, like your address, this a quick and easy way to do so.

3. FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

You can find us on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Search NAHT to find our accounts and follow us. We share news, content and important membership information on these platforms, and we wouldn’t want you to miss out.

4. FIND YOUR LOCAL BRANCH OR A EQUALITY NETWORK

There is more information on the next page about our branches and networks. When you join, you’ll be added to your local branch and receive emails about its activities. Explore our networks to discover which ones are of interest and get in touch directly. Find out more by turning the page (after you’ve read the other eight points below of course).

5. SIGN UP FOR OUR MENTORING PLATFORM

As a member, you now have access to our peer-to-peer mentoring scheme. Whether you’re looking to be a mentor or mentee, our members are ready to be part of your growth journey. There’s more information about the scheme on page 24.

6. READ ABOUT OUR CURRENT CAMPAIGNS

If you want to know more about our latest priorities and what we’re campaigning on, visit: naht.org.uk/our-priorities. We update this page regularly, so it’s a great one to pop back to frequently.

7. SIGN UP TO NAHT EXTRAS

Save money on everyday purchases with NAHT Extras. After 14 days of being a member, you’ll receive an email from us explaining how to set up an account. Once you have a login, you’re ready to go. We also have an app you can downloadsee page 20 for more details.

8. BOOKMARK THE HUB

On page 14, you can read all about the differences between the NAHT website and our dedicated resource site – The Hub. We recommend favouriting or bookmarking this site. It’s packed full of short reads to support you.

9. CLAIM YOUR TAX BACK

Did you know you can get tax relief on your membership fees? It’s simple to do and you claim up to four years back. We’ve put together information on how to claim: naht.org.uk/taxrelief

10. SAVE THESE NUMBERS

We’re here to listen whenever you need us. Our advice team can help with a range of work-related queries, from pensions to pay, on 0300 30 30 333 from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. We also have a 24/7 support helpline, which you can access at any time. Save 0800 917 405 into your phone.

11. BOOK ONTO A COURSE

There’s no time like the present to kick-start your development. See page 18 for details of all our current courses and conferences. And you can find out more information on our website.

12. SHARE INFORMATION ON YOUR PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Now you’ve registered online, please take a moment to complete your personal characteristics form, which can be accessed under ‘my personal characteristics.’ Whilst this is voluntary, having this information helps ensure that NAHT is providing support and representation for all of our members.

WE’RE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU

Whether it’s through your local branch or via a dedicated network with members nationally, we can support you in your role.

As a member-led union, democracy is central to our structure, and our achievements have been reached as a representative, democratic union where everyone has an equal voice.

Our members determine the issues and policies that we take forward through our conferences, which are then highlighted locally, regionally and nationally. Our local branch meetings, regional meetings, networks, councils and committees are crucial in providing insights on where we should focus our attention.

We have three equality networks: Leaders for Race Equality, LGBT+ and Disabled Members, offering another source of support, information and networking within NAHT.

As a member, you’re now able to attend your local branch meetings and become involved. Our networks, councils and committees provide further opportunities to get more engaged in NAHT as a member.

Find out more at naht.org.uk/representatives and naht.org.uk/networks or contact your elected regional secretary below.

1. NORTH WEST

Roger Blackburn roger.blackburn@nahtofficials.org.uk

2. EAST MIDLANDS

David Allen david.allen@nahtofficials.org.uk

3. EASTERN

Jeff Conquest jeffconquest2@nahtofficials.org.uk

4. WALES

Dean Taylor dean.taylor@nahtofficials.org.uk

5. SOUTH CENTRAL

Sam Cooper sam.cooper@nahtofficials.org.uk

6. SOUTH EAST

Richard Rule richard.rule@nahtofficials.org.uk

7. LONDON

Dave Woods dave.woods@nahtofficials.org.uk

8. NORTH EAST

Debra de Muschamp debra.demuschamp@nahtofficials.org.uk

9. NORTHERN IRELAND

Katrina Moore katrina.moore@nahtofficials.org.uk

10. SOUTH WEST

Simon Hague simon.hague@nahtofficials.org.uk

11. WEST MIDLANDS

Alasdair Black alasdair.black@nahtofficials.org.uk

12. YORKSHIRE

Vic Logan vic.logan@nahtofficials.org.uk

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU

Make the most of our invaluable support and advice.

Have a question? Need legal support?

Want advice? Whether it’s something big or small, we’re here to help with whatever comes your way. We’ve been doing this for more than 125 years, so there’s nothing that surprises us, and nothing we haven’t heard or seen before.

On average, we receive 18,000+ calls, emails and online enquiries from our members each year.

We’re constantly updating our website with the latest information on legislation, government changes and education news, but sometimes you might need a little more help and guidance – so don’t hesitate to get in touch.

You can talk to us about anything and everything!

Common queries we receive include:

- conditions of service,

- pensions (general queries, ill-health retirement and early retirement),

- relationship difficulties,

- sickness and

- complaints.

This list isn’t exhaustive. What’s important to you won’t be the same as the next person. That’s why our dedicated team has varied experience to make sure we can cover what you, our members, need to know in relation to your employment.

I need support.

What should I do?

Firstly, contact us as soon as possible

Tell us as much detail as you can via phone 0300 30 30 333 or email membersupport@naht.org.uk

We’ll then triage your query

Our specialist assistants will review the notes and act depending on the issue and urgency.

Urgent

If a role is at risk or a matter is urgent, the advice team will contact you as soon as possible, usually on the same working day you get in touch*.

If your job is at risk, we’ll appoint a regional officer to take on the case at a local level.

Requires a professional conversation

If your query isn’t urgent, but requires a longer professional conversation, you’ll be able to book an appointment with a specialist adviser (whose professional background relates to the query) at your convenience.

If anything arises, we recommend getting in touch as soon as you can. The advice team can often help members at an early stage before an issue develops.

With some guidance or tactical options, we can usually help resolve the situation before it escalates. This means you’re in control, so you can focus on your day job.

LOOK BACK AT 2023

2023 was a big year for us. We were busy driving progress for our members, and working alongside our sister unions to collectively make an impact on the education sector across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

HERE ARE SOME OF

THE HIGHLIGHTS

We ran successful industrial action campaigns and surpassed government thresholds across all nations and in the crown dependencies.

IN ENGLAND

We secured a 6.5% pay award for school leaders

We secured a 6.5% uplift and a 1.5% one-off payment for 2022-23, 5% uplift for 2023-24

We obtained additional funding from DfE to pay for 3% of the pay award

IN WALES

We fully negotiated a workload agreement, which includes workload impact assessments on all new government education policies and initiatives

We gained commitment to a ‘workload reduction taskforce’

We wielded an additional £51.3m to support the pay award

IN NORTHERN IRELAND

With no increase in pay forthcoming, despite increases being received by colleagues in other jurisdictions, we took the unprecedented decision to escalate our industrial action

In liaison with the four teaching unions, members took three days of strike action*

*At the time of going to print, we have entered formal pay negotiations with the employing authorities.

OUR CHARITY PARTNER EDUCATION SUPPORT

This year, I’ll celebrate my thirtieth year of working in schools, my twenty fifth year as senior leader and NAHT member, and my nineteenth year as a head teacher. I can’t think of a greater honour than being voted president of NAHT – the school leaders’ union.

I’m immensely privileged to have experienced a long and fulfilling career in education. But the last few years have been the most challenging and led me to question my longevity in the role. The covid-19 pandemic had an impact on my well-being and health, as well as the mental health of many of my colleagues. We all faced numerous challenges as we navigated the complexities of managing schools during the pandemic. These challenges include the following:

1. Uncertainty and rapid changes

The pandemic brought about sudden and unpredictable changes, such as shifting between in-person, hybrid and online learning. We had to adapt quickly to these changes, often without clear guidelines or time to plan, leading to increased stress and anxiety.

2. Constant decision-making

We had to make difficult decisions about school closures, safety protocols, remote learning strategies and more. The responsibility of making decisions that could

impact the health and education of students and staff weighed heavily on our shoulders.

3. Health and safety concerns

Ensuring the safety of students and staff in the face of a contagious virus added to the stress. We had to implement and enforce health protocols, manage logistics and address concerns from parents, staff and community members.

4. Balancing work and personal life

The boundary between work and personal life became blurred because of the need to address urgent matters outside regular working hours. School leaders reported increased workloads and difficulty disconnecting from their responsibilities.

5. Supporting staff and students

Many school leaders expressed concerns about the well-being of their teachers, staff and students. They had to provide support for educators dealing with remote teaching challenges, students facing learning disruptions and families experiencing hardships.

6. Isolation and loneliness

The pandemic led to physical isolation, making it harder for us to meet face to face with our peers and share experiences. For many, the lack of social interaction and professional networking opportunities contributed to feelings of loneliness.

SIMON KIDWELL

YEARS IN EDUCATION: 29 CURRENT ROLE: SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

NUMBER OF STUDENTS: 470

NUMBER OF STAFF: 64

NUMBER OF CLASSROOMS: 15

7. Pressure to maintain performance Despite the challenges, school leaders were pressured to maintain educational standards. The fear of a punitive inspection and the return to high stakes accountability measures caused added stress.

8. Financial strain Many schools faced financial challenges because of reduced funding, increased expenses for safety measures and falling pupil numbers. Managing budgets and resources during such uncertainties added considerable stress for school leaders.

We all faced numerous challenges as we navigated the complexities of managing schools during the pandemic.

When I reflect on the challenges we’ve faced, it’s clear that many school leaders are questioning their longevity in the role. Many are asking how long can we continue to do more with less and how long can we sustain crippling workload pressures that impact our health and family life?

Self-care and being able to talk about the challenges we face as school leaders is the reason I’ve chosen Education Support for my presidential charity.

Education Support offers bespoke mental health support for school leaders and school staff. This includes access to a help line, resources for stress management and information about self-care practices. Additionally, it publishes research including the annual teacher well-being index, a comprehensive and robust insight into the mental health and well-being of all education staff that informs government decision-making. Please look at its resources and consider making a charitable donation to support its work.

Warm regards

Simon Kidwell | NAHT president

MAKE THE MOST OF OUR

Our website is regularly updated with important information, our priorities as a union and dedicated member-only content.

Provided by a team of NAHT specialist advisors, we have a series of guides on key topics and issues for school leaders, covering everything from pay and

We recommend you start by exploring the following web pages:

naht.org.uk/advice-support Your one-stop shop for advice.

naht.org.uk/our-priorities

All the latest information about our campaigns and focuses for the year.

keeping children safe to school websites and inspections. As soon as new advice from the government is shared, we start communicating it to you.

naht.org.uk/courses

The current list of all courses we have on offer for you to grow professionally.

naht.org.uk/membership/members-home

Keep up to date with the latest news and information from us.

WEBSITE AND THE HUB

The Hub is a curation of short reads, videos and resources for school leaders.

With new content published every week, we suggest you bookmark this website for when you’ve got five minutes spare to explore our latest advice. The site covers a host of topics, but you can filter content to quickly find what you’re looking for.

Make the most of this free content, which includes information about management

and leadership, MATs, events, pupils, curriculum and much more.

There’s also specially selected content from education companies, which we think is too good not to share.

With so much to see, we suggest starting here:

thehub.naht.org.uk/category/management

Key resources for all managers or school leaders.

thehub.naht.org.uk/category/mat

Specific content relevant to MATs.

thehub.naht.org.uk/category/ pupils-curriculum

Advice to help students flourish, and information about new curriculum updates.

BENEFITS FOR YOU BENEFITS FOR YOUR SCHOOL

We want you to make the most of your membership and use all the benefits that come with being part of NAHT.

So, we’ve split our benefits into two categories – benefits for you and benefits for your school.

Over the next few pages, you’ll find out more about these benefits and if you’d like additional information, visit our website or use the QR code on the corresponding page.

PAGES 18-19

PAGE 24

CPD – courses and conferences

Let us help you grow professionally.

PAGES 20-21

PAGES 22-23

NAHT Extras

A range of discounts to help members save on everyday essentials.

NAHT Personal Financial Services

Personal financial advice and guidance to help you reach your goals.

NAHT Mentoring Scheme

Share best practice or gain invaluable guidance with our free mentoring platform.

PAGE 25

PAGES 26-27

Invite a friend to join and reap the rewards

Help your union grow and we’ll reward you for every colleague or friend who joins.

NAHT Wellness and Protect

Staff absence protection with complimentary well-being and leadership support.

PAGES 28-29

NAHT Recruiter

A ready-to-use recruitment software tool, specifically designed for schools.

CPD designed by school leaders, for school leaders

NAHT is a name you trust. Our continuous professional development (CPD) is high quality, developed and delivered by renowned experts in the education field.

Our courses will give you the tools to manage your professional responsibilities with confidence and include:

- Ofsted Update

- Safeguarding/DSL Update

- Leading Investigations

- Appraisals and Difficult Conversations

- Successful Subject Leadership

New courses are added each term in response to developments in the education sector and feedback from our members.

Inspiring Leadership Conference

Our courses are offered to you at a member discounted rate and provide amazing networking opportunities.

Many of our online courses are recorded and available to members for up to 30 days after the live session.

To explore our full CPD programme and book your place, visit: naht.org.uk/CPD/ Professional-Development

Inspire yourself, inspire your school

The Inspiring Leadership Conference is renowned for its ability to inspire leaders. Your two-day ticket will give you access to a programme packed with inspiration from keynote speakers, expert practitioners and hundreds of senior leaders – for opportunities to reconnect with existing networks and make new ones.

Book your place today at: naht.org.uk/inspiringleadership

Do you have specific training requirements or need help planning your next INSET day? NAHT’s tailored training uses our event management and educational expertise to help you achieve your goals.

With access to multiple resources across the education sector, including specialist consultants, our experienced team will work with you to provide expert, resultsfocused training tailored to your requirements.

Bespoke to your requirements

Excellent value for money Hand-picked, high-quality facilitators

In-person at your choice of venue or online

Fully flexible timings, including twilight

“Excellent, up to date with all aspects of an Ofsted inspection. Extremely worthwhile and beneficial.”

Head teacher, Dagenham, 2023

SUPERMARKETS

DAYS OUT

Make the most of the weekend with up to 27% off great-value days out and cinema tickets.

FOOD AND DRINK

Don’t fancy cooking? Save on your favourite food and drink, with up to 15% off high street restaurants, pubs, gift cards and takeaways.

*All partners are correct at the time of publishing. Make savings with hundreds of your favourite brands and retailers

Save on your weekly shop with discounts from 4% to 6% on reloadable cards and e-vouchers.

FASHION

If you’re looking for a new wardrobe, you can save up to 14% on your favourite brands.

TRAVEL

Holidays don’t have to cost the earth with up to 19% off hotels, car hire, experiences and flights.

• Retrospective cover for your former career in education

• A professional community where you can speak and vote on the issues that affect life members locally and regionally

• Discounted benefits through negotiated rates with our preferred partners

• Expert advice and guidance on any issue you face concerning your pension, retirement and NAHT volunteering

• Become a mentor with NAHT mentoring scheme

• Representation by the National Life Members Committee who actively work on your behalf to protect your current and future needs

• National Executive Committee representation

• The opportunity to join or help establish a life members’ group in your area

• A spring, summer, autumn and winter life member newsletter, a termly Leadership Focus magazine and access to the members’ area of our website.

Our mentoring platform provides a space for school leaders to share and gain knowledge that will benefit those starting their leadership journey as well as seasoned leaders.

FOR MENTORS

It’s a chance to help strengthen the profession by sharing your experience and knowledge.

FOR MENTEES

It’s a great way to explore less familiar areas and establish a strong working mentor relationship that will inspire you.

Working together and tapping into this knowledge, we can help make education the best it can be.

WORD THE SPREAD

TOGETHER WE’RE STRONGER

We know you’ve just started your journey at NAHT, but if after a month or two you think we could benefit your colleagues, why not tell them about us?

It’s not just the union that’s stronger together With an aligned SLT, you’ll all be receiving high-quality advice and support whenever it’s needed to help your school provide the best level of education.

Reap the rewards

If you refer a colleague or friend who then joins NAHT and mentions your name, you’ll both receive a welcome gift card.

Plus, there’s no limit to the number of times you can refer so it’s a win win –a win for your colleague and a win for you.

Visit naht.org.uk/referral for the current referral amount and full terms and conditions.

Scan to find out more

Staff absence protection for your school or full MAT/Academy

We extend cover beyond accidents and illness absences to ensure you also have protection against the costs of:

Maternity Cover (up to £10,000)

Parental Leave (up to £3,000)

Adoption leave (up to £10,000)

Bereavement leave

Suspension cover

Compassionate Leave

Major incident cover

Jury Service

Phased return

Stranded staff cover Covid-19

Trade Union Days

Interrupted Claim

Accident cover

Whole school well-being and leadership support for

Menopause counselling

Mental health and well-being first aid  training, counselling sessions, stress coaching

Financial well-being coaching

Health care services including a 24/7 GP service, nurse support services, physiotherapy and surgical assistance programme

Free flu vaccines

Occupational health services including assessments, support line and well-being hub.

ATTRACT

Instant exposure to over one million visitors every month

Build your own job adverts and career sites to attract and engage potential candidates

Grow your own talent pools for proactive recruitment all year round.

SUPPORT

Receive your own dedicated customer success manager

Access live chat functionality for guidance and support when needed

Get tailored assistance for data collection, form-building and the design and layout of your career site.

RECRUIT

Customise workflows to coordinate the entire process across your hiring team with ease

Schedule and conduct video interviews directly from your recruitment portal

Store online application forms, emails and references in our secure, encrypted platform.

HIRE

Create a seamless candidate journey with approved online application forms

Hire from your existing talent pool

Tailor the entire hiring process to fit your needs.

Products and Services we think you might like …

The following advertisers are not endorsed by NAHT, and their products and services are provided to you direct from them.

IMPORTANT CONTACT DETAILS

ADVICE AND SUPPORT

Receive expert advice on managing your school and benefit from individual legal support. Call 0300 30 30 333 (option one) from 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

We help nearly 2,000 members every month with advice and legal support. Call us to see how we can assist in your dayto-day role or with any difficulties you may face in your career.

As well as our advice hotline, members can benefit from individual consultations, support from regional officers and help with litigation casework.

You can also use the Education Support 24/7 counselling line on 0800 917 4055. Calls made to this number are completely confidential and access to this service is included as part of your membership.

CONTACT US

NAHT 15.11-15.12 Millbank Tower 21-24 Millbank London SW1P 4QP

MEMBERSHIP SUPPORT

If you need to let us know about a change of role or circumstance, please call the member support team on 0300 30 30 333 (option two) from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. We take more than 1,000 calls from members every month, ensuring they have the right membership to suit their role.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Last year, we trained more than 1,000 members on our professional development courses. Call the events team on 01444 472405 to find out how our training can bring you up to date.

Call: 0300 30 30 333

Email: info@naht.org.uk

Visit: naht.org.uk

General secretary: Paul Whiteman