Abstract

Mervyn Wilson (Principal of the Co-operative College, Manchester) and Vanessa Scargill (Director of Business and Community Strategy at Aylsham High School and Coordinator of the The Aylsham Cluster Co-operative Trust) are our guests at the next LfL Supper Seminar in February 2014.

The growth of co-operative schools in recent years has been described by some as a ‘silent revolution’ with over 700 schools adopting co-operative models in the last five years. The model covers both trust schools and academies, and the national network, the Schools Co-operative Society is now an approved academy sponsor.

The common feature of co-operative schools is an ethos based on the globally shared co-operative values and governance arrangements that provide mechanisms to involve key stakeholders – parents/carers, staff, learners and the local community through membership. The Aylsham Cluster Trust comprising 9 schools was the first co-operative trust in Norfolk, with other clusters across the county following its example.

The seminar will explore:

• What is driving the growth of co-operative schools throughout England?
• How do those co-operative values impact on all aspects of the school life?
• Do co-operative schools provide a wider democratic alternative in an increasingly marketised education system? If so, what are the biggest challenges they face?

All welcome. Free to attend. Wine and nibbles served. Please email lfl@educ.cam.ac.uk to register.

The LfL Supper Seminars are supported by BELMAS

http://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/centres/lfl/