Making a difference in 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 – 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 principles A rich history of working with schools – and running schools as co-operatives A shared commitment to raising expectations and achievement A gateway to the global co- operative movement Experience 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 1Partner 2 Partner 4 Partner 3 Forum or Council Membership including Parents 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 1 st February plus by 1 st 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 – Tel: or Network details –