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Matt Wrack, the former general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), has been elected as the permanent general secretary of the NASUWT teachers’ union after a ballot that saw less than 5% of eligible members participate.

Wrack secured 5,249 votes, defeating his challenger Neil Butler, the NASUWT’s national officer for Wales, who received 3,126 votes. This election marked the NASUWT’s first contested leadership vote in over a generation.

Originally, the NASUWT had announced Wrack’s appointment as unopposed. However, following a legal challenge from Butler regarding the executive’s earlier decision to declare Wrack the winner without a ballot, the union proceeded with a formal election.

Wrack expressed gratitude to union members for their support and emphasized his commitment to strengthening the NASUWT’s influence. “NASUWT is a proud and powerful voice for teachers, and together we will make that voice even stronger. Now, our priority is unity and action,” he said.

Addressing key issues facing the education sector, Wrack highlighted the prolonged challenges teachers have faced, including underinvestment, excessive workloads, and a lack of respect for the profession. “We urgently need government to invest in education – that means fair pay, manageable workloads, and safe, respectful working environments for staff and students,” he added.

Despite the low voter turnout, Wrack’s election signals a new chapter for the NASUWT as it seeks to advocate more forcefully for teachers’ rights and improved conditions in the UK education system.

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