part of a guest lecture series on social enterprise at Goldsmiths University, London, this seminar explored the history, structure, impact, role, and potential futures of Co-operative schools and academies as a transformative emerging model of education that seems to be otherwise going largely unnoticed...

1. Co-operative Schools
the revolution in education that no-one
is talking about...?
http://about.me/adrianashton

2. Some (hopefully) reassuring words
about me...
• Associate with Co-op College – supported
schools become Co-op Trusts
• Changed company law to make it more ‘coop
friendly’
• National reputation for co-op enterprise
support and development for nearly 20 years

3. What do you already know
about co-ops?
• Where do they come from?
• What different types are there?
• How do you define them?

4. Co-ops
• Been around a long time (Babylonian texts)
• Global movement
• Enterprise model that can be structured in
different ways to reflect membership
• Common defining values and principles

5. Your time at school...
• were you taught ‘enterprise’?
• Were you taught about co-ops?
• (Are you taught about co-ops since leaving
school?)

6. But first...
• Trusts and Academies
– Charitable entities who hold Schools Assets
– Set own curriculum, staff terms, and admissions
policy
– National programme with cross-party (and
Unions) support
– Legislative process to create (2006 Education and
Inspections Act)

7. The world of schools is changing...
• Local Authority no longer has central role in
providing education
• Financial pressures
• Marketisation of school education (free
schools, academies)
• New entrants competing for learners

8. They’re nothing new...
• Co-ops in Babylonian times
• Education = core defining value
• In UK, many societies in C19 paid for local
libraries and organised educational talks
• Global model (far more established in other
countries than in UK!)

9. What makes them special?
• Ethos based on global values
• Democratic engagement (and accountability) of key stakeholders:
– Parents/carers
– Staff
– Pupils
– Local employers
– Other education bodies
– Other community bodies
• Safeguards assets
• Adaptable form to any type of education body
• Direct links through into wider global co-operative movement

10. Co-op schools:
• Co-operative:
– Governance
– Ethos
– Curriculum
– Pedagogy

11. Currently 2015
• 800+ co-op trust schools
– 75% OFSTED rated outstanding or good and equal
academic attainment in GCSE 5 A*-C to national average
• 7 Co-operative Group academies (pre-date Co-operative
Academies model)
• 43 stand-alone (or MATs) Co-operative Academies
– Out-perform ‘traditional’ academies in terms of
educational attainment:
http://www.suttontrust.com/researcharchive/chain-effects-2015/

12. Not just the school, but the
qualifications too
• Accredited certificates in co-operative studies
(ASDAN)
• Young co-operatives (co-op enterprise
education)
• Curriculum materials developed within
Schools Co-op Society by Co-operative College

13. Fit with the ‘bigger picture’
• Builds on other public sector reform
democratically engaging key stakeholder
groups and building accountability to them:
– Leisure trusts
– NHS foundation trusts
– Public sector mutuals

14. Trades Union support
• Gives members more authority and influence
• Better safeguards public services
• Schools Coop Society formed joint Forum with
Unison which includes all other main teaching
unions and managed by Co-operative College

15. A growing family needs support
• National network
– Advocacy, peer support, procurement
• Schools Co-operative Society
– Co-operative College
– Co-op Group
– Co-op Schools

16. So what challenges are there?
• Why do you think we don’t hear more about
this model of education?

17. So why don’t we know about it?
• Schools usually only teach private business
model in syllabus
• Government policy agenda for Free Schools
• OFSTED don’t collate and compare
performance of schools by type
• Lack of general wider awareness about what
being a co-op means

18. Where next..?
• Co-op Academies model
• Co-op free school model
• Co-op Universities?

19. Bedtime reading (optional)
• School.coop
– http://school.coop/
• Schools Co-operative Society
– http://www.co-operativeschools.coop/
• Co-op College
– http://www.co-op.ac.uk/schools-and-young-people/co-operative-trusts-academies/
• Co-operative Academies Trust
– http://co-operative.academy/
• Social Science Centre
– http://socialsciencecentre.org.uk/
• Students for Co-operation
– http://www.students.coop/
• Young Co-operatives
– http://www.youngco-operatives.coop/