Teachers, headteachers and our children need change...

Securing a better future for pupils and staff

The inaugural meeting of the Improving Education Together Partnership Board took place on 20 January 2025.

This marks a new approach to improving education that is based on a partnership between government, employers and trade unions working together to achieve the shared ambitions of a world-class education for every child in the UK.

The Board has been established with the aim of agreeing proposals on education policy and implementation, with subgroups carrying out the detailed work in specific areas. The initial focus is on:

  • accountability;

  • SEND and inclusion; and

  • the education workforce.

Today marks a defining moment in terms of how government can work constructively with trade unions and employer representatives to address the challenges that currently exist and to improve outcomes for all children and young people.

Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said, ‘The last government failed pupils and teachers and headteachers. The launch of the Improving Education Together partnership represents a seismic change to the landscape that will benefit those who work in our schools and colleges and the pupils they teach.

‘As signatories to the Improving Education Together partnership, we will be delivering a New Deal for Teachers, ensuring that the school and college workforce have the working conditions they need to secure the best opportunities and outcomes for all pupils.’

As we turn this historic corner, NASUWT calls for the new Labour Government to commit to making our country the best to grow up in for every child and young person.

Teachers, headteachers and children have been failed for 14 years.

In July 2024, Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary, said, ’The Government now has the opportunity to enter a new era of social partnership working that will deliver the changes needed to make this the best country in the world for children and young people to grow up and be educated. 

‘Members of the NASUWT are looking to the new Government to listen to their concerns and take the steps needed to secure the world-class conditions of service that our teachers deserve.’

‘We look forward to working with the new Government to secure a New Deal that will deliver for teachers and for their pupils.’

More teachers and headteachers are leaving the profession prematurely, while targets to train the next generation of teachers have been missed for more than a decade, holding back a generation and damaging our country’s prospects for the future.

We believe that investing in a brighter future for our children starts with investing in our teachers

After years of neglect and decline, a New Deal for Teachers on pay, workload, working hours and wellbeing can only be secured when Westminster is on the side of teachers, education and public services.

The Labour Government needs to put in place a national workforce plan with equality at its heart that will build an inclusive, diverse and representative teaching profession.

Dr Patrick Roach, General Secretary, said NASUWT will not ‘rest on its laurels’ when it comes to campaigning for our members’ rights.

NASUWT will be campaigning to ensure this government will commit to ending the teacher recruitment and retention crisis and ensuring every child is taught by a qualified teacher. 

Teachers have been left angry and frustrated and want this government to make an early commitment to delivering a New Deal for Teachers.

We know the scale of the challenge they face. We’re not asking for quick fixes.

Our members want lasting solutions that will repair our broken schools and colleges.

We want politicians who will champion teachers and deliver a promise to secure the future of our profession.

But, it’s not enough to hope for the best. We all need to play our part in making change happen and that work begins today.

Speak to your colleagues and encourage them to Join Us and Join In, to be part of NASUWT's campaign to secure a New Deal for Teachers.

Join the campaign