Making a differencein the curriculum and governance of schools

What Are Trust Schools?

• Maintained Primary, Secondary or Special schools

• Foundation school with a Trust

• Collaboration with other schools, FE/HE, businesses, charities

The Trust - Supports The School

• Appoints some governors – usually a minority• Holds land and building ‘on trust’ • Helps shape the long term strategic vision and ethos

• Raise standards – bring together expertise

• Preserving good practice – maintain relationships

• Innovation – from external partners

• ECM – focus throughout all ages

• 0 -19 – addressing transition and continuity issues

• Community cohesion – wider community activities

Trust Status Offering

Engagement between co-operatives and schools

• Network of Business and Enterprise Colleges

• Young Co-operatives – bringing ethics to enterprise

• Partner in DfE funded Enterprise Network

• Academy programme – Manchester and Stoke on Trent

• Trust Pathfinder Programme• Co-operative Schools Society

Co-operation works!“The school’s specialist status and strong links to the Co-operative movement have had a major impact on standards and achievement, which have improved considerably in the last two years”.

Ofsted on Sir Thomas Boughey Co-operative School, Staffs.

What do we bring?• Self help• Self responsibility• Democracy• Equality• Equity• Solidarity

• Honesty• Openness• Social responsibility• Caring for others

A globally shared set of values and commitment to education enshrined in our principlesA rich history of working with schools – and running schools as co-operatives A shared commitment to raising expectations and achievementA gateway to the global co-operative movementExperience of democratic member engagement in governance

Why are we supporting Trusts?• To contribute to greater diversity

in education delivery and establish long term partnerships

• To embed values and a shared ethos in schools in ways not possible through specialism

• To provide a co-operative governance model for trusts– empowering stakeholders through membership

Co-operative trust model• Engages key

stakeholder groups through membership

• Forum/Council provides a vehicle for accountability and high level consultation

• National Challenge Trust variant

Trust

Partner 1 Partner 2

Partner 4 Partner 3

Forum or Council

Membership includingParents Staff Learners Community Organisations/Individuals

Governing Body

School 1

Governing Body

School 2

The process• Identify trust partners, agree the

model, agree to consult• Consult – then consider responses• Publish a statutory notice• Consider responses and agree (or

otherwise) to become a Foundation School and acquire a trust

• Get involved in the national network – the Schools Co-operative Society

Co-operative schools • 117 schools in Co-operative trusts at

1st February 2011• 130 plus by 1st April 2011 and on

course for 200 plus by end of July. • 2 Co-operative Academies –

sponsored by the Co-operative Group – in Manchester and Stoke on Trent

• Schools Co-operative Society – National Network operational

• Co-operative models for New academies (and free schools) under development

Co-operative Trust Schools

Co-operative schools - International experience

• Over 600 Co-operative schools in Spain

• Over 80% of Primary schools in France teach co-operation

• Over 120 Co-operative schools in Portugal

• Over 100 co-operative schools in Sweden

• Over 1,900 school co-operatives in Malaysia

• Co-operative schools in Africa and South America

Who said……..

• “A co-op has a flexibility and dynamism that a central state agency lacks. Like the Rochdale Pioneers, a co-op is part of the community it serves. Its interests are their interests. And it is able to respond to the needs of the community immediately and directly”.

Contact & further information

• Resources – www.co-op.ac.uk

• Email Sean@co-op.ac.uk

• Tel: 01612462976 or 07545925326• Network details – www.becolleges.coop