What are party conferences?
Party conferences are key gatherings organised by political parties, providing an opportunity for members and leaders to come together to discuss policies, set agendas, and shape the direction of the party. For Green, Liberal Democrat, Labour members, conferences also provide an opportunity to debate and vote on party issues.
Conferences are attended by politicians, party members, the media, trade unions, and a variety of other organisations. They give the NEU a platform to engage directly with policymakers, advocate for our campaigns, and highlight the critical issues facing education today.
Find out more
If you're attending a Party Conference, stop by the NEU stand or join us at a fringe event. Find out what the NEU has organised for each by clicking the relevant links below.
- Liberal Democrat Conference: Saturday 19th to Tuesday 22nd September
- Labour Party Conference: Sunday 27th to Wednesday 30th September
- Green Party Conference: Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th October
- Conservative Party Conference: Sunday 4th to Wednesday 8th October
Liberal Democrat Conference: Saturday 19th to Tuesday 22nd September in Brighton
Sunday 20th September: The state of our schools: will the White Paper and SEND reforms deliver?
The Government's Schools White Paper and SEND reforms set out an ambitious vision - but with chronic teacher shortages, overstretched SEND provision, and funding that hasn't kept pace with need, can ambition alone close the gap? Join us to examine what the reforms mean for educators, pupils, and communities across the country, and what is needed for every child to achieve and thrive.
Time: 1:45 pm to 2:45 pm
Venue: Empress Room, The Grand
Speakers: LDEA representative (Chair); Scarlet Harris, NEU; Daniel Stavrou, Assistant Director, Council for Disabled Children; Caroline Voaden MP; Manuella Perteghella MP (invited).
Labour Party Conference: Sunday 27th to Wednesday 30th September in Liverpool
Sunday 27th September: What does Andy Burnham's 'complete rethink' of education policy need to achieve?
Andy Burnham has called for a “complete rethink” of education policy, recently describing schools as “exam factories”. As debate grows over Labour's direction on education, what should meaningful reform look like? Join education unions to discuss how we can build a better education system by securing investment, supporting the workforce, and delivering for every child and young person.
Time: 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Venue: LEC, Meeting Room 11C
Speakers: Laura McInerney (chair), Daniel Kebede, NEU General Secretary; Pepe Di’lasio, ASCL General Secretary; Paul Whiteman, NAHT General Secretary; Matt Wrack, NASUWT General Secretary.
Monday 28th September: Ending austerity - better choices for public services, living standards and investment
What would it take to deliver universal free school meals, SEND reform, end child poverty, guarantee every child access to a broad and balanced curriculum, and properly fund our wider public services? Years of austerity, fiscal rules, and spending constraints continue to limit what's possible - but a new Labour leadership now has the chance to deliver the new direction the country needs. This fringe will make the economic case for a different set of choices: ones that move beyond austerity, raise living standards, properly fund public services, and deliver the investment needed to build a fairer future.
Time: 10:00am to 11:00am
Venue: Leonardo Hotel, Suite 3/4/5
Speakers: Jennifer Williams, Financial Times (chair) (invited); Daniel Kebede, NEU General Secretary; Faiza Shaheen, Tax Justice UK Executive Director; Neal Lawson, Compass Executive Director; John McDonnell MP; Yuan Yang MP (invited).
Green Party Conference: Friday 2nd to Sunday 5th October in Brighton
Friday 2nd October: Exam factories - are we hitting the target but missing the point?
With over a million young people not in education, employment or training, the Milburn Review has shone a spotlight on whether the education system is serving all learners. The review argues for stronger vocational pathways, more flexible learning opportunities and earlier work experience, but can these succeed within a system still dominated by high-stakes exams? Join us to discuss whether an exam-obsessed system is contributing to pupil disengagement and dropout. What would a broader, more balanced approach look like, and what needs to change to get us there?
Time: 3:45pm to 4:30pm
Venue: Pavilion Room, The Grand
Speakers: TBC
Saturday 3rd October: Beyond neoliberalism: rebuilding education, empowering communities, and delivering economic justice
Decades of neoliberalism and austerity have hollowed out local economies, left education and other public services chronically underfunded, and stripped wealth and power from communities. The far right has sought to exploit this frustration and insecurity by blaming marginalised communities rather than the neoliberal political and economic choices that have driven inequality, decline and disillusionment. Recent Green Party victories - including in Gorton and Denton and the 2026 local elections - show that people are looking for a different path. The Green Party has an opportunity to champion a politics of economic justice, community power and social renewal. What would it take to break with the neoliberal consensus, invest in education and other public services, and rebuild the places left behind?
Time: 1:45pm to 2:30pm
Venue: Pavillion Room, The Grand
Speakers: Asad Rehman, Friends of the Earth (chair); David Wilson, NEU Deputy General Secretary; Mayor Zoe Garbett, Hackney Council, Hannah Sloggett, We’re Right Here.
Conservative Party Conference - Sunday 4th October to Wednesday 8th October in Birmingham
Sunday 4th October: Every Child Achieving and Thriving: What Next for Education Reform?
The Government's Education White Paper sets out an ambitious vision - but with chronic teacher shortages, overstretched SEND provision, and funding that hasn't kept pace with need, can ambition alone close the gap? Join us to examine what the reforms mean for teachers, pupils, and communities across the country, and what schools need for every child to achieve and thrive.
Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Venue: Soprano Room, Hyatt Regency Birmingham
Speakers: Debra Beale, NEU President; Louise Brice, Conservative Education Society Head of Policy; Laura Trott MP (invited).