Academies

The NEU is the leading teachers' union for academy teachers, whether leading the negotiations with academy chains or negotiating with individual academies.

As the number of academies and multi-academy trusts changes the shape of education, the NEU must build a strong collective presence in each and every academy. Strong school or college union groups will be necessary to ensure terms and conditions are protected.

The NEU's aim is a representative in every workplace. Whether your school or college becomes a stand-alone academy, a sponsored academy or joins a multi-academy trust, the union wants to help you at work.

This toolkit offers practical guidance, tools and arguments to promote members’ interests and strengthen the union in the course of a transfer to a new employer or for members in an academy. 
Steps to building a collective voice in your school or college:

• involve members at all stages of the transfer to a new employer
• encourage members to take an active role in the Union
• identify staff who are not in a union and ask them to join the NEU
• talk to representatives of the other unions in your school or college
• stay in touch with other representatives if your school or college is part of a federation or group of schools or colleges converting
• contact representatives in other institutions if your school or college is to be sponsored by another school, college, group of schools or multi-academy trust
• ask management to clarify any issue you or your members are uncertain about during the transfer; it is important for members’ rights that any ambiguities are cleared up
• be robust in defending your members’ interests, and always put your representations in writing
• have the NEU’s aims and objectives contained in this document clear in your mind so you know what you want during and after the change of employer
• keep in touch with your branch secretary and other NEU colleagues throughout the process

If your school or college is proposing to move to academy status or moving to a new academy employer, you can use the tips, guidance and resources on these pages to work with members to protect your rights for now and into the future.

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