Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Voice and Choice
England's first co-operative school opens.
Reddish Vale Co-op School has become the first in the country where every pupil will have a voice in the way it is run. The 1,400 pupil comprehensive school in Stockport has become a 'trust' school with the Co-op as their partner.
The school approached the Co-op for partnership because they were looking for a partner who would support the values of consultation and engagement by all members of the school community, including pupils. "It seemed we shared its values- and our very much into collaboration between pupils." (Headteacher, Phil Arnold)
The new trust school will be run following the principles of the Co-operative movement of democratic decision making in all aspects of school provision, management and ethos.
The school will have a democratic forum to come up with ideas about the school's future, which will include pupils, parents, teachers and community representatives . The pupils will have the same full voting rights equal to the adult members of the forum. Two members of the Reddish Vale Democratic Forum will be appointed on to the governing body of the school to ensure the forum's proposals are adopted and implemented.
The experience of pupils at Reddish Vale Technology College under the new trust management will involve each pupil being a member of a democratic institution in which they have voting rights and responsibilities to play their full part in supporting and improving their school. The voice of the learners is not just being heard but valued on an equal basis with the adult members of the school and community.The representatives of the extended school community will also benefit from consulting, debating and negotiating with pupils on an equal footing, likely to lead to the model being used in other community procesess and decisions where young people have not previously been given voting rights or responsibilities.
Expecting to play a full role as citizens in wider society is a natural progression for young people who have experienced this environment.
To read more about the Co-operative movement in education click here.