Cotham students champion benefits of becoming a co-operative

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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