As well as the key role of promoting and protecting the interests of its members, ATL exists to advance the debate on education today and to champion good practice, across the whole education sector. 

ATL campaigns and negotiates to achieve better pay, working conditions and terms of employment for its members. 

In so doing it is vital that ATL speaks and listens to its members and that members have a forum to let their union know what is really going on. This Have you say forum does just that, it let's members have their say. The education debate is a crucial one and belongs to members. So please take the time to look at the questionnaires, surveys and other opportunities to air your views that you can link to from this page.

It's your union, your debate.

 'ATL is a proactive union. We don’t just wait around for the government to make mistakes. We try to make things better. Our new policy-making processes give us the tools to be creative, proactive and positive. ATL does not merely react; it creates different visions and different priorities. We focus on the substance, not the structures of education.

Our members care about education, about their pupils and students. ATL members want to make things better so that all young people can achieve their potential in life, regardless of race, class or gender. Our policy work is at the cutting edge — going beyond the short-term, limited thinking of any government. We are looking to the future.' 
Dr Mary Bousted, Conference 2006