The union is committed to protecting and promoting the "cause of education" and to defending the professional interests of members.

Whilst "respecting and reserving" its legal right to take industrial action, Voice previously maintained a policy that it did not engage in "any kind of industrial action" that is "injurious to education" or damaging to the health, safety of welfare of those in its care or charge.

[4] The union initially aimed to recruit teachers from all colleges, schools and universities, and by 1979 had a membership of 13,000.

In 1981, the Conservative government gave the union a seat on the Burnham Committee, and its membership increased rapidly, reaching 40,000 by 1985.

The charity PAT (Education and Learning) was launched by the Professional Association of Teachers in 1999.