DRET have over 20 academies, both primary and secondary primarily based in the East Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber. The NASUWT along with the other workforce unions have negotiated a trade union recognition agreement with DRET for consultation and collective bargaining purposes.

This provides the necessary structures for the NASUWT to meet with DRET at a national level and on a regular basis in the DRET Academies Joint Consultative and Negotiation Committee (JCNC). The JCNC is where the trade unions meet with DRET to negotiate on pay, conditions of service issues and on policies and procedures for teachers and other DRET staff.

DRET currently employ teachers according to the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document and Burgundy Book in all their academies except for Havelock Academy, which has separate pay and conditions applying.