ATL

Who we are

ATL, the education union, uses the experiences of its members to influence education policy across the UK. By sitting around the table with government and employers, we make a positive impact on pay, conditions and career development.

Since its establishment in 1884, ATL has evolved into a modern union currently representing 160,000 members across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Our members are teachers, supply teachers, heads, lecturers, managers and support staff in maintained and independent sector schools and colleges.

ATL also offers the benefits of standard membership at a reduced cost to members of the Examination Officers' Association (EOA), which is made up of teaching and administrative exam officers, the National Association of School Business Management (formerly National Bursars' Association) and the Independent Schools Bursars' Association (ISBA).

ATL has established a partnership with the Association of College Management (ACM) to provide benefits to school and college leaders and managers. Called the Association of Managers in Education (AMiE), members of both unions can access AMiE's bespoke services for leaders.

For our student and newly qualified members, ATL has a separate website and newsletter called new2teaching, which is packed with all the information, tips and advice our newer members need for starting out in their career.

In order to represent our members in the wider trade union movement, ATL affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in 1999.