Received from: NAHT, National Education Union
Composing of motion 10 plus amendments and motion 11
Congress recognises the threat posed by the far right, the growth of racist politics and the threat to migrant communities, people of colour, LGBT+ people and to cohesion in our workplaces and classrooms. Far-right politics feeds on insecurity and division while offering no serious answer to underfunded public services, insecure work, poverty or inequality.
Congress believes education is central to this struggle. it is one of our strongest defences against prejudice. A broad, inclusive curriculum taught by qualified teachers builds the critical thinking and media literacy skills children need to question, weigh evidence and reject scapegoating.
Some of the world’s largest tech companies, and figures such as Elon Musk, now amplify far-right politics and disinformation and from September 2026 the government, will trial commercial AI tutoring tools in state schools, targeting disadvantaged children.
Congress believes that education is a human endeavour rooted in social relationships. AI must not diminish human-centred education or displace or replace teacher professionalism and agency. Unions must be involved in all decisions around the design, ethical procurement and use of AI in education.
Schools, colleges and early years settings are civic institutions and bastions of community life, where children encounter equality and inclusion, families turn for support, and communities remain connected in periods of division. They provide safe, inclusive spaces for children and families exposed to hostility, exclusion or fear.
Congress believes the far right grows where hope shrinks. Fourteen years of austerity have damaged the services families rely on, and many who turn to Reform fear for their children’s futures. The answer is investment in those futures and fair taxes on wealth, not conceding the ground.
Congress believes children should not be the test population for trials run by edtech, with no independent evaluation. The same industry pushing these tools cannot be trusted to mark its own homework.
The trade union movement must be clear: defending education from the far right is central to defending workers, children, communities, democracy and the future of public services.
Congress applauds the work of TUC campaigning so far but wishes to see explicit reference to the attacks on public education.
Congress calls on the government to:
i. reject far-right narratives which attempt to portray educators as a threat to patriotism and commit to defending education as a space for learning, inclusion, and community
ii. defend education and educators from xenophobic and hate-fuelled narratives, support education workers facing intimidation, stand with refugees and migrants, and defend the trade union rights needed to resist attacks on public services.
Congress calls on the General Council to:
a. campaign for a fully funded, inclusive curriculum, delivered by qualified teachers, that equips every child to think critically and oppose AI tutoring tools ahead of independent trials and defend pupils’ data
b. link the case against the far right to the campaigns against austerity and for tax justice
c. call for an emergency programme of policies to defend workers and their families from the cost-of-living crisis, and action against austerity and against the divisive politics of the far right
d. defend teachers and other workers targeted by far-right politicians, including attacks by Reform-controlled councils, and oppose disciplinary action, suspension or victimisation for challenging racism, supporting migrants or speaking out against discrimination.
Mover: National Education Union
Seconder: National Association of Head Teachers
Supported by: NASUWT; Public and Commercial Services Union;
Educational Institute of Scotland