Young Members
The NASUWT has a range of campaigns and activities supporting members aged 30 and under within both the Union and the workplace. The National Young Members’ Advisory Committee informs policy development on issues affecting young members and campaigns on issues including excessive observation, workload, bullying, behaviour management, NQT induction and employment rights.
Events for Young members
The annual Young Teachers’ Consultation Conferences have proved to be highly successful. The 2010 conference took place on 23rd January and with over 200 delegates was the largest ever.
The conference theme was 'Planning for the Future' and gave young teachers the opportunity to explore the challenges facing them, discuss the key professional issues, and share experiences. There were speakers from a range of organisations including the Training and Development Agency (TDA), Childnet International, Trades Union Congress (TUC), and Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT.
Next year's conference takes place on Saturday 16 January 2011 at the Hilton Metropole, Birmingham. The conference is open to all young members aged 30 and below.
"All aspects of the conference were very helpful considering the current climate. It is often these issues that schools don't have time to cover, so its useful to get the info from elsewhere..."
-Consultation Conference 2009 delegate
The Union also organises regional young members’ events and conferences, which take place across the UK. The next regional Young Teachers' Seminar is at the Wyboston Lakes Conference and Training Centre in the Eastern Region on Saturday 20 March. The seminar will include sessions on Love Music Hate Racism, behaviour management, performance management and the new Ofsted grading criteria. Overnight acmommodation, food and entertainment is provided. Travel and childcare/carer costs will be met by the Union. For further information contact Sam Harrison on sam.harrison@mail.nasuwt.org.uk
The NASUWT provides a two-day development course specifically aimed at young members’ interested in getting involved in the Union. The next Young Teachers Development Course is on 19 and 20 March at Hillscourt Education Centre in Birmingham. The series of national and regional seminars for Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) are also relevant to young teachers.
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News and Campaigns
Each year the NASUWT sends delegates to the TUC Young Members (new window) conference. The 2009 conference took place on 26-28 March in Eastbourne and delegates discussed a number of issues of concern to young trade union members including fighting racism and fascism, trade unions and education and and low pay. A report of the conference is in the Reports section of this page.
The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations (new window) came into force on 1st October 2006, and they apply to all employers. Age discrimination law currently applies only in employment and vocational training where people have been treated less favourably on the basis of their age, without justification. Goods and services are not covered by the regulations. The regulations have been introduced to protect all employees from being discriminated against, or harassed because of their age. This means it is unlawful to discriminate or harass employees on the grounds of their age. This legislation cover young workers who are discriminated against because they are young. For more information contact your Workplace Representative or Equality Officer.
Each year the NASUWT runs the Eamon O'Kane Young Activist of the Year Award. The award was created to encourage activism amongst young members and to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution of young members to the work of the Union. This year's winner is Rachael Cronk, who is 29 and has been a teacher for seven years. Rachael was nominated by the Windsor and Maidenhead Local Association where she played a central role in helping to organise a recent South East Regional Young Members Conference. Rachael will hold the position of NASUWT Young Activist of the Year until Annual Conference in April 2010.
The NASUWT recently sponsored research carried out by the National Union of Students (new window) into the experiences of student parents in both further and higher education across the UK. The aim of the report is to shed light on the experiences of student parents, in terms of access to student finance, childcare, course organisation and support, as well as their experiences of students’ unions and extracurricular activities. The report will be used to provide an evidence-base to campaign nationally for changes to Government policy affecting student parents. Meet the Parents Report (PDF-1403K)