Education Co-operatives: learning communities
1. National education context
2. Co-operative principles & background
3. Co-operative Academies
4. Co-operative Free Schools
5. Co-operative Trusts
6. Co-operative Education Partnerships
7. Q&A and discussion time
Jon O’Connor
Co-operative College London & SE Area Manager
London Co-operative Party
Saturday 14th July 2012
The Co-operative
CollegeFacilitates and advises co-operatives across many sectors
Responds to requests from the education sector for advice
Designs co-operative structures for the new education context
The SchoolsCo-operative Society
National representative body for co-operative schools
Co-operative education: a movement with momentum
The number of co-operative schools
September 2008 1
September 2009 27
September 2010 98
September 2011 171
September 2012 368
September 2015 ????
London & South East co-operative education developments
Co-operative School Trusts
Co-operative Academy Trusts
Co-operative Free School/LA Partnership projects
Co-operative Special School Partnerships
Co-operative education improvement partnerships
National education context
1. Significant legislation
2. New school structures
3. Harsh economic climate
4. Reductions in resource
5. Shifting Responsibilities
A radical education policy
A radical shift in economic climate
A radical shift in education delivery
70 years on from the 1944 Act….Government policy is committed to systemic change …
A mixed economy of schools
2000+ academies by end 2012
New school brands & chains
Secondary driven revolution
Primary schools a key target
And …the policy will have systemic consequences
A fragmented schools system
QA and EO regulation issues
Changes in LA leadership role
Continuing strain on LA resources
New drivers in education services
A mixed economy of providers
Radical change radical results
From today’s Guardian: Secret Head Teacher blog Anxiety is the killer and this has been a bumper year. Too
many colleagues on long-term sick; one collapsed while taking an inspector round the school subsequently downgraded from outstanding to good. Three days in hospital.
"The only solution is structural" for schools in any kind of trouble we hear. Academy chains prowl around the borders of the county waiting for Ofsted's big beast to move away from a carcass.
Heads aren't running scared but they are drinking too much red wine. Panic does battle with fatalism. Do we jump before we are pushed or leave our fortunes in the hands of the fast disappearing local authority?
In this climate, the challenge for Local Authorities is…
To manage 30%+ revenue cuts 2011-14, impacting onStrategic and longer term planning capacity
Educational experience, expertise and historic relationships
Proactive & responsive provision for vulnerable: SEN, safeguarding
To respond pragmatically to change, as requiring A revised relationship with schools
Challenge & Support for governing bodies
Remodelled support services using a client-based approach
In this climate, the challenge for schools is…
To absorb responsibilities from the local authorityFilling the gap left in strategic and longer term planning
Compensating for loss of expertise and historic relationships
Sustaining provision for vulnerable: SEN, safeguarding
To respond pragmatically to change, as requiring A revised relationship with external bodies: LA; Ofsted
A new role for governing bodies: sharper & impact focused
Procurement of support services in a new market-place
Why develop co-operative models for education provision?
To respond positively to the new education landscape
To offer diversity in delivery
To embed key values and a shared ethos within the system
To provide a positive governance model for trusts and partnerships
To empower and engage communities and stakeholders
A new policy to reinvigorate the
public sector“We will support the creation and
expansion of mutuals, co-operatives,
charities and social enterprises, and
enable these groups to have a much
greater involvement in the running of
public services”
The Coalition Programme for Government
May 2010
Another new policy to reinvigorate the public sector
"We will create a new presumption –
backed up by new rights for public service
users and a new system of independent
adjudication – that public services should
be open to a range of providers competing
to offer a better service”
February 2011
Co-operative
Core valuesA globally shared set of values & principles since the first co-operative: Rochdale Pioneers in 1844
1 billion co-operative members worldwide and 9.8 million members in the UK alone.
Co-operatives provide retail, funeral, insurance, agricultural, industrial & manufacturing services
A history of community & co-operative education, in schools and colleges leading up to the 1944 Act
A shared commitment to raising expectations & achievement through democratic engagement
Self help
Self responsibility
Democracy
Equality
Equity
Solidarity
Honesty
Openness
Social responsibility
Caring for others
Co-o
pera
tive
com
munitie
s• Build on common core
co-operative principles
• Control in the hands of those with the greatest interest in success
• Focus on practical necessity and real work
• Use low-key business-like management styles
• Show the global appeal of integrity & credibility
Culture shiftWorking from within
Working from grass roots
Academy Sponsor
or Converting
SchoolProvide Oversight of
Forms Trust with legal powers to manage
School(s) leadership
Governors(or Directors)
Trustee AppointmentsDFE Funding AgreementLand & asset lease
Basic Academy operating model
All
repo
rt b
ack
&
resp
ond
to
Parents & Carers Staff
Learners Community
AlumniLocal Co-operative
Members elect representatives to
Co-operative Academy Board of Trustees
Partner Organisations
Members
Members/Stakeholder Forum
Board of Governors
Co-operative Academy Trust characteristics
Forum appoints to
Co-op Academy structure
Co-operative Free Schools
•Co-operative principles
•Strategic new provision
•Community engagement
Guardian 13.07.12 Riverside Co-operative Free School
The Riverside Co-operative will be one of the biggest free schools when it opens in the east London development of Barking Riverside, catering for around 1,800 children when at full capacity.
Serving the Barking Riverside community – up to 11,000 new homes
Planned with the local authority in response to basic need: shortage of places
Co-operative Trust Schools
The Foundation provides a legal entity Creating a bar to external change Maintaining a connection with the
local authority, as a maintained school
Holding major assets in trust Sustaining core values and ethos
The Partnership extends opportunities To affirm community commitment To state a choice of character To develop local provision To offer local accountability To engage stakeholders in decisions
The Trust is similar to community schools: Governing Body composition & role Staffing conditions unchanged
Supported by Unions & Associations
Why do heads and governors consider it a good move?
1.Principled partnership
2.Defensive structure
Co-operative trust modelEngages key
stakeholder groups through membership
Forum/Council provides a vehicle for accountability and high level consultation
Trust
core members from school(s)
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
Co-operative Education Improvement Partnerships
Education partnership models Harlow Education Consortium Newham Partnership Working Merton education partnership
Cabinet Office Pilot public service mutuals Eg 3BM (Hammersmith &
Fulham/Westminster/Kensington & Chelsea
Vehicle for larger group of education partners
Working alongside local authority service provision
Designed to support strategic goals for raising attainment
Company Limited by Guarantee, mutual or charitable characteristics
Not for profit, values driven
Reinvesting any surplus in education projects
LA- inspired, school-led collaborative solutions
E.g. Sandwell, Wolverhampton
Co-operative Education 2012 Changing the landscape
21000 schools
3200 sec, 17000 primary,
1957 Academies - 200 in May 2009
Largest Local authorities shrinking rapidly
Almost 400 schools and partners are now involved in Co-operative education
www.co-op.ac.ukwww.youngco-operatives.coop
Co-operative CollegeSchools Co-operative Society
Further information
www.co-op.ac.ukwww.school.coop