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