Co-op values implemented in trust schools give young people a sense of purpose and offer a more well-rounded education. But let’s be honest, surely it is equally important that education has an equal focus on developing ethical values and social responsibility.
Of course I do speak about this with good first-hand experience, and I was very proud when Reddish Vale Technology College, in my constituency, became the first school in England to become a cooperative trust school in March 2008.
I have been very impressed to see at close hand how the values of the cooperative movement have shaped so many of the pupils there and how beneficial it can be to their development and life choices in later years. I know this type of experience does have an influence long after the pupils have left and hopefully (despite the best efforts of the current government) gone onto university.
And on a political level, many of the rising stars in my constituency Labour party went to the school at Reddish Vale Technology College under the watchful mentorship of some of the inspiring staff there such as Phil Arnold. It has not just been a good educational experience for the pupils involved, but has created a whole new generation of ambassadors for co-operative values.
The school has good reason to be proud of its track record. Reddish Vale has nearly 1,400 learners and was described by Ofsted as serving an area of relative disadvantage. The percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals and those with learning difficulties and disabilities is higher than the national average. But the co-op trust school has made real a real impact on academic results. Before co-op status, Reddish Vale GCSE results were in the mid-40s. Today now over 70 per cent get five good GCSEs.
I would certainly like to see more cooperative trust schools because as it stands too few young people leave school with an understanding of cooperatives and mutuals and the values that shape them.
So what is the next for cooperative trust schools? Clearly Labour is currently going through a policy review, with everything being discussed and reviewed. We need to build on the previous Labour government‘s proud record of achievements in education, standards rose year on year, we brought in 42,000 extra teachers and turned round under performing schools.
But clearly the policy review will have to consider the needs for education in the future, what the next generation will need to be successful in the modern world, how to improve standards and provide a balanced curriculum.
I certainly think that the style of education offered by cooperative trust schools could be an effective way of meeting these challenges and enriching the educational lives of the pupil, and will certainly be making sure they are fully considered in the policy review.