Poet and children’s author Michael Rosen received a standing ovation from NUT delegates after reciting a poem where “children become data”.
The former children’s laureate raised raised a cheer when he said it was a “sad but wonderful occasion, the end of the NUT, but the NUT lives on”.
The union merged with the ATL in September to form the National Education Union, and the NEU’s NUT section is holding its last annual conference in Brighton this weekend.
Mr Rosen told delegates the letters N, U and T “run through his body like rock” because both his parents were in the NUT, and its issues were discussed at the dinner table.
He recalled joining the union in its anti-deportation action, and its campaigns to keep sixth forms attached to schools, oppose “over testing” and support reading for pleasure.
Mr Rosen said battles still lay ahead on academy trusts, workload, grammar schools, testing and school cuts.
Watch as Mr Rosen addresses the conference:
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