At the CfSA, we believe that subject associations are stronger together, and that means listening carefully to the people we represent. Late last year, 2025, we ran our annual member survey, giving all member associations the opportunity to share their experiences, priorities, and ideas for the year ahead.
We’re pleased to share the results here, and to be transparent about both what’s working well and where there is room to grow.
Who responded?
A quarter of our Full Member associations completed the survey. Whilst we hope to see broader participation in future years, the responses we received shed light on member experience, and we’re grateful to everyone who contributed.
Satisfaction: a solid foundation, with room to grow
Overall, members gave us encouraging scores on their experience as CfSA members, with an average satisfaction rating of 4.0 out of 5. Responses on our effectiveness as a representative body averaged 3.6 out of 5, a reflection, we believe, of both the real value members find in the CfSA’s collective voice and the honest recognition that there is more we can do.
| Membership experience satisfaction | 4.0 / 5 average rating |
| Effectiveness as a representative body | 3.6 / 5 average rating |
What members value most
When asked about the biggest benefit of CfSA membership, the message was remarkably consistent: it is the collective voice and the connections it enables. Members described the value of:
- Having a unified voice for professional subject associations in national conversations
- Networking with and learning from other subject associations
- The CfSA’s convening power in connecting members with key external bodies and policymakers
- The Subject Association Directory as a shared marketing tool
As one member put it,
“Our voice has more power together.”
That sentiment captures exactly what the CfSA is for.
How members see us, and where they want us to focus
Members were asked which roles best describe the CfSA. The most commonly selected were: representative body for subject associations, professional network and knowledge-sharing forum, policy influencer and advocacy organisation, and provider of events and briefings.
Looking ahead, members are clearest in wanting the CfSA to prioritise its role as a professional network and knowledge-sharing forum, followed closely by policy influence and advocacy. This reflects a strong desire from our membership for more structured opportunities to connect with one another, not just as a collective voice outwards, but as a community that learns and supports from within.
Policy engagement: active, but wanting more coordination
All respondents reported that their associations had been directly involved in policy consultations in the past year, including with the DfE, devolved governments, and other national bodies. This is a testament to the sector’s active engagement with the current reform landscape, including the Curriculum and Assessment Review.
Members told us that they would welcome more from the CfSA in this space: shared vision statements, regular ‘Chatham House rules’ conversations with other associations, and greater coordination around collective responses to policy developments. Several members highlighted that the curriculum review was a particular moment where a more connected network would have been valuable.
Events: quality, not quantity
When it comes to events, members broadly favour a rhythm of once every six to eight weeks for online sessions, with a preference for one-hour formats. For in-person events, the overall preference is for once a year, with members keen to have an opportunity to meet face-to-face with fellow association leaders.
The highest-rated event formats were briefings from policymakers (4.6/5 average), roundtable discussions on specific topics (4.4/5), and briefings from external experts (4.3/5). There is a clear appetite for events that connect members with the people and ideas shaping the education landscape, particularly in the post-Curriculum Review period.
Suggested speakers and topics included senior education ministers, curriculum design experts, and opportunities for member associations to share their own subject-level research and practice.
Peer support groups: strong interest, especially in policy and research
One of the most exciting findings from this survey is the strong appetite for themed peer support groups connecting members with similar roles and responsibilities. Across five potential focus areas, members rated every category as beneficial, with Policy and Advocacy (4.7/5) and Research and Evidence (4.4/5) scoring highest, followed closely by Communications and Engagement (4.2/5).
We will be taking this feedback forward as we develop our plans for peer support groups in the coming year.
The member newsletter: a good start, with more to offer
Our member newsletter, launched in September, has already reached most of our respondents, 70% of respondents had read at least one issue. Early ratings averaged 3.6/5 for informativeness.
Members told us they would like to see more: updates on the Curriculum and Assessment Review and other policy developments, spotlights on member activities and research, shareable content they can cascade to their own networks, and commentary on emerging education issues.
We’ll be using this feedback to shape future editions.
What comes next
This survey has given us a clear direction of travel. Our members want more structured opportunities to connect with one another, stronger coordination around policy engagement, events that bring them closer to the people shaping education, and a newsletter that keeps them informed and connected.
We’re committed to listening and acting on this feedback. If you’re a subject association that isn’t yet a CfSA member, we’d love to hear from you, and if you’re already part of our community, thank you for helping us to improve.
Subject associations are stronger together. This survey is one more step in making that a reality.
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For more information about CfSA membership, visit www.subjectassociations.org.uk