About Co-operative Trust Schools

At the recent Co-operative Party Conference, the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls MP announced an initiative to support the setting up of up to 100 co-operative trust schools over the next two years.

The announcement heralds the establishment of a multi-stakeholder co-operative school model, in which parents, teachers and communities together with organisational partners have direct power over the running of local schools rolled out to others.

Trust Schools are a key part of the Government's education reform strategy for England and the College has worked with the Co-operative Group and schools to develop a distinct co-operative trust model that enables schools to embed co-operative values into the long term ethos of the school.

Reddish Vale Technology College in Stockport became the first school in the UK to adopt the new Co-operative Trust model enabling parents, staff and learners to become members in the multi-stakeholder co-operative.

The Co-operative College is now supporting the development of Co-operative Trusts throughout England and working with the Co-operative Group to develop a strong national network.

For further information on Trust schools, see www.school.coop.