MP tables Bill for Co-operative Schools

Under the plans, proposed by Meg Munn MP, it will become easier for schools to become co-operative. The MP launched her Co-operative Schools Bill in the House of Commons last week.

It calls on schools to be able to register themselves as Industrial and Provident Societies, and is seeking an amendment to the Education Act 2006 to ensure that nursery schools are able to join primaries and secondaries in establishing school Trusts.

Co-operative Schools place a high focus on schools, teachers and the community working together. At the core of co-operative philosophy is the development of young people into active global citizens.

The Co-operative movement was set up more than 160 years ago and grew to cover a large number of fields, from finance to farming and retail. In recent years, changes to the way schools can operate has allowed the creation of a  new sector of the UK co-operative movement. The educational co-operative sector is now growing and the Schools Cooperative Society has been created to help co-ordinate the sector.