ATL Future forum

Exciting opportunities for students and NQ members with ATL Future!

The current ATL Future forum

A delegation of over 40 student and NQ members attended ATL Annual Conference last month to represent the views of 50,000 student and NQ members from around the UK. ATL Future - a group made up for students, NQs and members - spoke out on issues that matter most to those new to the profession, such as job opportunities, support for mentors, the dangers of social networking and student debt.

“Conference was so exciting and rewarding but there are lots of ways to get involved with ATL Future, either face to face or via virtual networks. I have made so many new friends and gained so much experience and professional development with ATL Future, now as an NQ in my second year it’s time for me to help other new members in ATL through my work on the ATL Future steering group” Ashley Dickey, ATL Future convener.

How do students and NQ members get involved in ATL Future?

ATL Future consists of three strands: the ATL Future forum, regional ATL Future networks and the ATL Future steering group. To find out more email organise@atl.org.uk.

ATL Future forum 

Any student or newly qualified member of ATL is eligible to be part of the ATL Future forum and it is a simple way to get involved. The forum is virtual, with members communicating with each other and the ATL Future steering group via email. This is a great way for student and NQ members to share views and have their say in the work of ATL Future or raise concerns and issues that matter to them. The forum members are asked to give their feedback on ATL Future activity, ATL policy and campaigns or publications for student and NQ members. Members of the ATL Future forum can also participate in regional networks or any other ATL Future activities. The virtual forum is via regional Facebook groups.

Regional ATL Future networks

The ATL Future steering group members and ATL Future regional teams, supported by the ATL organising team, develop and run local events and training and networking opportunities for student and NQ members in their regions or ITTs.

Regional ATL Future teams are organised each year and aim to meet once per term to decide on local activity, events and campaigns. The team can include members of the national ATL Future steering group or members of the ATL Future forum, however all student and NQ members in the region are invited to attend.

Each ATL Future region has a Facebook fan page for students and NQ members within the region to network beyond events and to find out more about ATL in their region. Although initially set-up and administrated by members of the organising team, some Facebook groups are regularly updated and managed by student and NQ members themselves.

ATL Future steering group

The ATL Future steering group is made up of eight student and NQ members who are elected at ATL Annual Conference (ATL Future AGM), one ATL officer and two ATL members, who are advisors, and two Executive members. They work alongside staff in order to ensure student and NQ members’ opinions and views are included in ATL’s work. This requires them to attend four Saturday meetings at the ATL London office.

The group may be required from time to time to work with different ATL members and staff to assist with developing ATL policy, publications, or campaigns including producing articles for the new2teaching magazine and website. The ATL Future steering group members are also involved in developing the ATL Future regional teams and regional activity and often attend training and seminars for students and NQ members to promote ATL Future.

Members of the ATL Future steering group are also actively involved in the recruitment of new student and NQ members to the Regional networks and teams at events by promoting ATL and advertising regional activity in their ITTs or workplaces. A member of the organising team also attends the ATL Future steering group meetings to provide further support.

So what has ATL Future been doing?

• developing resolutions for ATL Annual Conference on the issues that affect student and NQ members, and then representing these views

• initiating ATL policy development on student debt and NQ induction

• recruiting new members at freshers fayres, student enrolments and NQ local authority welcome events

• organising events and ATL lectures at ITTs

• delivering presentations on the work of ATL Future at seminars for newly qualifieds and other events

• developing the role and training for ATL student reps

• steering group Members graduating from the ATL/TUC Activist Academy

• representing ATL at TUC Young Members Conference, TUC Young Members’ forum and at TUC Congress

• introducing ATL Future regional networks

• developing virtual networks for students and NQ members on Facebook

• contributing articles to the new2teaching magazine and the website www.new2teaching.org.uk.

Find ATL future Regional network on Facebook...

Scotland

Northern

Midlands

Wales

South West

London & South East

North West

Northern Ireland 

Join in and get on at ATL Future regional network events

• local events & training that meets the standards

• face to face teams working together

• local campaigns on issues that matter to new professionals

• sharing experience with peers and members

• make new friends and support each other.

Email organise@atl.org.uk for more information on events in your region with full contact details.