Released on: February 10, 2011, 6:55 am
Author: The Co-operative Group
Industry: Education
More than 100 primary, secondary schools and colleges in
England are set to pool resources, expertise and buying power in the
first organisation of its kind in the UK – the Schools Co-operative
Society (SCS).
The announcement 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 governing body is now
working on a strategy that will include:
• Sharing best practice in terms of teaching and management.
• Advancing the co-operative 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, one of the community projects which has been run by The Co-operative Group, the UK’s biggest mutual retailer, and the Co-operative
College, the Movement’s educational charity, 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 SCS Board.
He explained: “Co-operative values and principles are more relevant than ever at a
time when people are being urged to be more independent and less reliant on the
state.
“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, Group Chief Executive of The Co-operative Group, 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.”
Mervyn Wilson, Principal and Chief Executive of the Co-operative College which has
worked to develop the network of co-operative schools added: “We strongly believe
that 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.”
For more information, please contact:
Dave Smith
The Co-operative Group Press Office
Tel: 0161 827 5614
Mob: 07702 152771
Email: dave.smith@co-operative.coop
http://www.co-operative.coop/