NAHT’s Annual Conference ended this afternoon after another day jam-packed with strong debate and impassioned speeches from members and guest speakers.

In the morning, the conference hall was filled with palpable emotion as Professor Julia Waters, sister of head teacher Ruth Perry, talked movingly about the pain and anguish her family had endured since Ruth's death. In a powerful speech, Julia spoke about the injustice of the one-word judgement and called on school leaders to stand up and speak out about the broken inspection system, saying that if Ofsted wont budge, it is up to school leaders to force the change. Julia urged members to "refuse to be complicit in Ofsted's reign of terror" by removing Ofsted banners and other promotional materials, and called on NAHT members who work as inspectors to hand in their badges.

Watch Julia address conference here.

The emotionally-charged atmosphere in the auditorium continued with a special address from shadow secretary of state for education Bridget Phillipson MP. After extending her personal condolences and those of the entire Labour Party to Ruth Perry’s family, she said that "a country that doesn’t take the well-being of teachers and leaders seriously is a country that doesn’t take children’s education – or its own future – seriously". She said a Labour government would deliver more teachers, mental health counsellors in secondary schools, professional careers guidance in every school and the ending of tax breaks for private schools.

Bridget went on to answer questions on a number of issues, including academisation, curriculum and SEND.

Watch Bridget address conference here.

Conference’s attention then returned to motions for the day’s final sessions, where delegates continued participating in meaningful discussions, including about funding for special educational needs and disabilities, and the teaching of LGBT+ issues in the curriculum.   

Closing the conference, Paul Whiteman said delegates had demonstrated their humanity and their humility, and shown that when a proud profession is overworked, underpaid and overregulated, it stands up and fights back. He ended by saying "Go back to your branches and plan for a ballot and plan for action. It’s time for you to reclaim your profession."                 

Take a look at some of the images from Annual Conference 2023.