The NEU has members in about 160 further education colleges in England where we are one of the unions that is represented in the national negotiations with the Association of Colleges.
Further education teachers
The NEU is involved in local negotiations with many colleges and campaigns with other unions to improve pay and working conditions in colleges.
Advice and guidance

Rights and conditions
Negotiations about pay and conditions of service in FE colleges take place nationally and at individual college level.

Pay
Members in FE have seen their pay levels drift to a staggering £9k below that of schoolteachers and their counterparts in Sixth Form Colleges.

Funding for 16-19 education
The Government has announced that the 16-19 funding rate for 2025-26 has been increased to £5,026 per student.

Restructuring
When colleges are going through restructuring members understandably look to their union for support and advice.
Professional practice

Lesson observation
This guidance outlines NEU best practice models for both the conduct of lesson observations and the teaching and learning observation system (TLOS) framework within which they are conducted.

Protection of children and vulnerable adults
Staff in further education colleges have a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under the Children Act 2004 in the same way as school staff.

Reducing accountability workload (post-16)
Your guide to reducing workload in post-16 colleges.
Pensions
Teaching staff in FE colleges, including fixed term, temporary and zero hours staff directly employed by the college can join the Teachers' Pension Scheme. Agency workers between 22 and State Pension Age and earning over the “earnings threshold” of £10,000 should be ‘auto-enrolled’ into a workplace pension scheme provided by the agency.

Teachers' Pension Scheme
The Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) will provide much of your retirement income, so it is vital that you understand it.

Supply teachers: Agency workers pensions
Advice on your eligibility for and access to workplace pension schemes as an agency supply worker.