Who should you recruit?

Existing colleagues

The most common reason given for not being in a trade union is, ‘Nobody asked me’.

There has never been a more important time to recruit to the NASUWT, the largest teachers’ union in the UK. The education system, alongside all other public services, has been subject to cuts and reform.

Freedoms afforded to academy and free schools have resulted in a weakening of the national terms and conditions that teachers could previously rely on. It is vitally important that teachers in academies and free schools understand the importance of joining the NASUWT and that, although the Union is opposed to the opening out of the education service to the market through academies and free schools, the Union will offer members in those schools exactly the same support as members in state-maintained schools. 

Newly appointed colleagues

NASUWT Representatives should not assume that a new member of staff is already a member of the NASUWT or any teacher trade union. NASUWT Representatives should ensure that new starters, including student teachers on their work-based placements, are welcomed and made aware that the NASUWT Representative is always available for help and support. This introduction can then be built on to discuss the benefits of NASUWT membership with these colleagues.

Supply teachers

NASUWT Representatives may wish to discuss the benefits of NASUWT membership with supply teachers who have been engaged to undertake an assignment at the school. 

The NASUWT provides detailed advice and guidance for supply teachers, as well as discounted NASUWT membership. 

Early career teachers

The National Union communicates regularly with all NASUWT student members during their final year leading to qualification and has a good success rate of converting them to early career teacher (ECT) membership. 

NASUWT Representatives should not assume that all early career teachers have already joined the NASUWT or any other teacher trade union. In addition to discussing why the NASUWT is the largest teachers’ union in the UK, NASUWT Representatives should ensure that they are informing early career teachers of the most current NASUWT new teacher subscription offers, as well as the specific beginning teacher-focused seminars that the NASUWT runs every year.

Early career teacher membership offer

All early career teacher members who agree to pay the second year of subscription by direct debit will receive FREE NASUWT membership for the first term of teaching plus the following calendar year, followed by a 50% reduction on the second calendar year.

Free full early career teacher membership can commence in the months leading up to the date of qualification and provides cover for any supply work during this time.

Members who do not wish to pay by direct debit receive free membership for the first term after qualifying and half price membership for the following two calendar years.

Initial teacher training students

Initial teacher training (ITT) students receive legal and professional cover and other membership benefits completely free during their training. The NASUWT has close links with the National Union of Students (NUS). The NUS will deal with any education-related casework whilst the NASUWT will deal with any school-based issues that occur whilst on teaching practice.

Many ITT students are recruited at the beginning of their course whilst at university. However, NASUWT Representatives should always check with those on teaching placement that they are receiving the benefits of FREE NASUWT student membership. Some ITT students, for example distance learning students, may not have been approached at university.

School-based teacher training programmes

The school-based routes to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) include School Direct (Salaried), Teaching Apprenticeships and those taking part in the Teach First or Now Teach programmes. These potential members are based in schools and have not been exposed to any of the traditional ITT recruitment events that the NASUWT attends.

It is therefore vital that NASUWT Representatives approach these members in order to recruit them to the Union. These members receive the benefits of full membership completely free of charge during the time that they are training and then qualify for the same subscription offers as all other ECTs. 

  • Full subscriptions can be paid monthly, quarterly or annually by direct debit or by credit or debit card by simply telephoning the Membership Team on 03330 145550. Current subscription rates are listed on our What You Should Pay page.

  • Members paying subscription by direct debit get extra benefits.

  • Part-time teachers on 60% contracts or less pay half the subscription and those on 30% or less pay only 25%. Both concessions enjoy full membership benefits.

  • Lapsed members returning to the NASUWT are not covered for the time during which they did not pay subscriptions.

  • Tax relief is available on subscriptions. Contact your local tax office, quoting your National Insurance number or your tax reference number. Our Membership Offers page has details of how to do this.

Useful recruitment resources produced by the NASUWT:

Always apprise yourself of the latest membership offers and recruitment incentives. These can be found on our Why Join? page.

All the resources detailed above can be downloaded free of charge from this website.

It has never been easier to join the NASUWT either online or with one hassle-free phone call to 03330 145550.