Schools Secretary Ed Balls has announced that he wants to roll out the co-operative school model – in which parents, teachers and communities have direct power over the running of local schools. The Department for Children, Schools and Families will make £500,000 available for a pilot of up to 100 Trusts with co-operative governance models over the next two years, so that those with an involvement in schools have a say in how it is run. Local community groups, including parents, teachers and local businesses can come together to give input and help govern schools. Schools that join the Trust Schools Programme are currently eligible to receive up to £10,000 from Government to support the costs of setting up a Trust. Those wishing to adopt the co-operative model will now be able to recoup an extra £5,000 to engage consultants to assist in developing this innovative model. Ed Balls said, “I want to see more parents and communities actively involved in schools and the co-operative model is an ideal way to do this. This is about putting power in the hands of those who are directly engaged with local schools, and who know best what is needed in their area. As the first co-operative trust is now successfully up and running, I want to see this model rolled out across the country, cultivating co-operative schools and the democratic, innovative opportunity they represent. This is about enabling any schools, or new Trust partners, interested in this unique model of governance, to try this out.”

Weblink

11 September 2008
© Department for Children, Schools and Families