The LGBTI Teachers’ Consultation Conference offers a safe space to explore key issues and challenges you face in your career, share experiences with other LGTBI members and contribute ideas for the future of your Union.

These events are FREE to eligible members and provide you with the opportunity to take part in seminars and workshops.

  • You are eligible if you have self-identified on your membership record as identifying as LGBTI.

  • If you have not yet recorded your equality monitoring data, you can do this yourself by logging into e-Services or you can email our LGBTI inbox to send the information to us via a secure, bespoke LGBTI email address. Please be reassured that information on members’ sexual orientation or Trans identity is treated in strict confidence and not shared with Workplace Representatives or Local Associations.

Events will be listed in this section as they become available. Tap/click for details of the event and how to book.

NASUWT conferences and events are strictly for adults only due to the nature of the content shared and no children will be permitted into any areas of the conference.

LGBTI Teachers’ Consultation Conference 2026

The 2026 LGBTI Teachers’ Consultation Conference was held at the Park Regis Hotel in Birmingham on Saturday 5 June under the theme ‘Beyond the Rainbow - Educators for Intersectional Justice’.

The conference invited members to share their experiences, meet other members and engage with the key issues and challenges facing the Union to shape the future of the Union.

Chairing the Conference, NASUWT Junior Vice-President Sharon Calvert welcomed Matt Wrack, NASUWT General Secretary.

Mr Wrack was joined by Claire Ward, Chair of NASUWT Equal Opportunities Committee, for a discussion of how NASUWT supports LGBTI rights based on three questions:

  1. Since the Supreme Court judgement last year and the initial and more recent draft Codes of Practice from the EHRC, many LGBTI teachers are navigating an increasingly challenging and hostile public and political environment. What role should NASUWT play in supporting members and defending LGBTI equality in the workplace?

  2. The theme of today’s conference is Beyond the Rainbow - Teachers for Intersectional Justice. What does that theme mean to the NASUWT and why is it important for trade unions today?

  3. Looking ahead, what would success look like for LGBTI teachers and for NASUWT’s equality work over the next five years? And what practical actions can Workplace Representatives, activists and members take to help create more inclusive and supportive workplaces for LGBTI teachers?

Mr Wrack also took follow-up questions from members on issues facing LGBTI teachers in their workplaces and in wider society.

Workshop sessions

The day had begun with a choice of workshops:

  • Step Bi Step: Strengthening Bi-inclusivity in Education - Laura Clarke, Sex and Gender Specialist, My Body & Yours.

  • The Role of Unions in a Changing Political Climate - Bradley Wall, NASUWT East Midlands Organiser.

  • Trans People’s Rights in 2026 and Why it is Trade Union Business - Chay Brown, TransActual.

Interactive workshop

An interactive consultation survey entitled Educating for Intersectional Justice was chaired by Claire Ward, Chair of the NASUWT Equal Opportunities Committee, and Jennifer Moses, NASUWT National Official (Equality and Training).

Encouragingly, nearly half of respondents said they would like to contribute more or become active in the union’s activities after attending the LGBTI Conference.

Click through the image gallery below to see more survey responses.

Afternoon session

Members were also able to hear Esther Ghey, mother of murdered trans teenager Brianna, on Building a Culture of Belonging - Brianna’s Legacy.

Esther is a campaigner and founder of The Brianna Ghey Legacy Project, which supports the mental health and wellbeing of young people and their families across the UK. She is a leading voice on online safety, including calls for phone bans in schools and stronger social media regulation.

The day was rounded off with an opportunity for LGTBI teachers to socialise and network to continue discussing the important issues raised during the day.

Next steps

The Conference expressed concern at the recently published draft and updated EHRC Services, public functions and associations: Code of Practice. Members were concerned that the draft guidance had already created anxiety and fear about their ability to exist in their true selves and particularly from members who are trans and non-binary. The Conference called for support for the EDM 240 tabled by Nadia Whittome which calls for parliament to reject the Code of Practice in its current form.

Flickr Album

Want more influence?

The NASUWT is a member-led Union, which means you getting actively involved in your Union to support your colleagues and fellow teachers at work.

Getting active in the Union can take a variety of forms and will mean you get access to FREE training, support, and personal and professional development: you can be proud in the knowledge that you are undertaking a role that helps teachers in their workplaces.

Find out more

Calculate your travel carbon footprint

As part of our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, particularly at our conferences and events, we'd like to share a tool allowing you to understand the environmental impact of your journey and identifying low-carbon door-to-door travel plans that help you towards net-zero travel.

Try the You.Smart.Thing travel planner.

 


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