
Routes to a new academy employer: Academy toolkit
There are several different ways that members can move to a new academy employer.
The NEU supports and represents its members in academies in the same way as teachers in local authority maintained schools.
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:
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.
There are several different ways that members can move to a new academy employer.
The process of transferring staff from one employer to another (eg an academy) is governed by the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 ( TUPE).
TUPE information and consultation process and the key issues to be aware of
TUPE is shorthand for the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection and Employment) Regulations 2006, a legal framework around which you can involve and engage members to act collectively to protect and advance their rights as they transfer to a new employer.
Know your contractual rights so that you can ensure they transfer to any new employer.
A “measure” is a very broad term which will apply to any deliberate change in working conditions or practices which your employer wants to introduce.
A checklist for reps before transferring to a new employer
Resources for reps and members transferring to or working in an academy or free school
Know your rights, so you can act collectively to safeguard them.
Read and download the latest edition of Privatisation Update.
Academisation is driving down staff pay, terms and conditions, alienating communities and has caused the fragmentation of the education system. Despite this, English schools are still being put under
Academy sector and schools as a whole are feeling the effects of an unsustainable funding model, NEU says.
The NEU welcomes a report from the Public Accounts Committee into converting schools to academies, and agrees with its recommendations.