Co-op schools unite to get a better deal

The initiative comes at a time when the Government is encouraging greater independence in education as part of major reforms and is designed to help schools help themselves in accordance with co-operative values and principles. 

Already registered as a co-operative, the organisation’s interim governing body is now working on a strategy which will include: 

• Sharing best practice in terms of teaching and management 

• Advancing the Co-op cause in the field of education 

• Using combined buying power — estimated at £100 million plus — to purchase a range of goods and services including energy, administrative services. 

All the schools and colleges involved employ globally shared co-operative values such as self-help, democracy, equality, honesty and social responsibility both in their governance and in the curriculum.  

They are part of the Co-operative Schools Programme, which has been run by the Co-op Group and the Co-operative College for the last eight years. 

Dave Boston, head teacher of Sir Thomas Boughey Co-operative Business and Enterprise College in Newcastle-under-Lyme, has been appointed Chair of the CSS Board. He said: “The Government’s educational reform programme presents us with an opportunity to promote the co-operative model, which has a proven track record of success in improving school performance.  The SCS will play a crucial part in this as well as using the combined buying muscle of its member schools to get better commercial deals.” 

Peter Marks, Co-op Group Chief Executive, commented: “Our close involvement in, and support for the establishment of the SCS, yet again demonstrates the essential difference between The Co-operative which, since its inception more than 150 years ago, has had a clear social purpose, and other retailers, whose ultimate goal is to maximise profits for private shareholders.” 

Co-op College Principal and Chief Executive Mervyn Wilson added: “We strongly believe the adoption of co-operative values and principles in the education system will support community cohesion and educational achievement and will  produce young people, who are more socially aware and capable of contributing to the wellbeing of local communities.”