COTHAM
School has become a co-operative academy – and students are
determined that the change will bring dividends for all.
A group of students known as membership
champions are working to ensure that everyone is made aware of the
potential benefits.
The team has visited one of Britain's
best known mutual businesses, John Lewis, to find out about involving
members in the running of the organisation.
Students went to the store at The Mall
at Cribbs Causeway as part of their preparation. They then held an
"awayday" at Arnolfini to decide on the school's values and
principles, which are based on the international ethos of the
Co-operative movement.
The membership champions have had the
task of spreading the word to fellow students through assemblies and
tutor group meetings.They are encouraging their peers to
sign up as members of the Cotham Co-operative Academy. Membership,
which is free, entitles students to goodies such as pens and badges
but, more importantly, gives them a say in how their school is run.
In November, the same month as the
Bristol mayoral poll, elections will be held for student members of
the forum, a group of representatives that will discuss issues
relating to the school and the community and will communicate ideas
to the governing body.
Parents, staff, alumni (former
students) and members of the local community will also have elected
representatives on the forum.
Suggestions to the membership champions
about how the school could be changed have ranged from installing a
swimming pool or ice rink to altering the uniform.
Some less ambitious ideas, such as
simplifying the map in the student planner to make it easier for new
arrivals to find their way about, are already being acted upon.
Kate Ellis, 14, said: "Part of our
role is to show other students there is a reason to become members.
We want to show them that they have a voice and it is being heard."
Syd Perryman, 14, said: The more
members we have, the better. If there is only one member, the voice
will be crushed. But if we can get a whole team of people, 2,000
voices – including students, staff and parents – it will be
powerful."
Luke Walter, 15, said: "It might
sound a bit cheesy, but the co-operative values are worth keeping
throughout life.
"We really want to change the school
for the better and the democratic process is preparing us for when we
are older and we have the actual vote."
Five of the front-running candidates to
be Bristol's first Mayor are visiting the school in Cotham Lawn Road
in early November to meet students and find out about the way the
co-operative is developing.
Head teacher Dr Malcolm Willis said: I
have been hugely impressed with the way in which students have
responded to the school becoming a co-operative. They really
understand the concept and are working to see it applied and making a
real difference to the day-to-day life of the school. Our membership
champions in particular have shown a real maturity throughout this
process; as always it is a pleasure to work with the students and
it's a really exciting time for the school."
The Co-operative Movement is a global
organisation started by the Rochdale Pioneers in 1844. One hundred
million people worldwide are members of co-operatives.
In the UK, businesses are realising the
potential of co-operative or mutual solutions as an alternative to
the PLC approach.
Across the country, more and more
schools are looking at the idea as a way of ensuring they stay
locally run, with engagement of all key groups, and with a long-term
commitment to good values.
Colston's Primary School in Bristol is
also a co-operative academy and the city has several trust schools,
including Ashton Park and some of its neighbouring primaries, and
Brislington Enterprise College and some of its neighbouring schools.
The Sir Bernard Lovell School in
Oldland Common and Hanham High School, both secondaries in South
Gloucestershire, have been consulting on possible conversion to
co-operative trust status.
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