The NASUWT Annual Conference 2026 took place between Friday 3 April and Saturday 4 April 2026 at the ICC Birmingham.
General Secretary Address
Matt Wrack's first address as NASUWT General Secretary to Annual Conference 2026 outlined many issues that teachers face with the underlying theme, ‘This is not acceptable, the vicious cycle of decline needs to stop, and when teachers stand together, we can change things for the better.’
Matt Wrack's first address as NASUWT General Secretary to Annual Conference 2026 outlined many issues that teachers face with the underlying theme, ‘This is not acceptable, the vicious cycle of decline needs to stop, and when teachers stand together, we can change things for the better.’
Mr Wrack‘s wide-ranging speech called on the Governemnt to 'Fix our future; fund education', taking in international issues and in the UK:
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recruitment and retention and poor maternity, paternity and parental provision;
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school buildings, staff restructuring and academies' misuse of funding;
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intolerable workload, excessive working hours and persistent poor pupil behaviour;
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the infrastructure required for proposed improvements to SEND provision; and
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years of low pay, falling living standards and squeezes on school budgets.
In summing up, Mr Wrack said, ‘Let’s build a better future for education, let’s build NASUWT the teachers’ union, let’s build our membership, let’s build our activist base, let’s build a better future for teachers.’
Highilights of Annual Conference 2026
Employment Rights Act 2025 fringe meeting
Through the Employment Rights Act 2025 (ERA), the Labour Government has introduced some of the most significant improvements to workers’ rights in a generation. The Act received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025, with many of the new rights and protections being introduced in stages over the coming months and years.
The reforms include trade union rights, collective redundancy, fire and rehire, collective bargaining, zero hours contracts, family friendly rights, flexible working, enhanced protections against harassment, the introduction of the Fair Work Agency, a day-one right to statutory sick pay, amended unfair dismissal rights, and extended time limits for employment tribunals.
During an Annual Conference Soundbite Session entitled ‘Using the New Employment Rights Act’, NASUWT partner Thompsons Solicitors presented an update on the progress of the Employment Rights Act 2025.
Henrietta Phillips, Thompsons Head of Legal Services, set out a timeline of legislative changes being brought in under the Employment Rights Act 2025. You can tap/click through her presentation below.
Many of the provisions in the ERA are subject to further regulation and ongoing consultation.
Thompsons has set up a hub bringing together everything you need to know and explaining what it means for trade union members. As aspects of the law are implemented, their page will be updated with new guidance, resources and support to help you understand and use the enhanced rights the Act gives you.
Thompsons Employment Rights Act Hub
