Putting education at the heart of co-operation and co-operation at the heart of education

1. From Co-operative Schools to co-operative Universities? Putting education at the heart of co-operation and co-operation at the heart of education Mervyn Wilson Principal Co-operative College

2. Who should own schools “How dare anyone give our schools away to a small group of unelected self appointed individuals? I am concerned about apparent attempts to privatise or marketise education” Secondary Head - Cornwall www.co-op.ac.uk www.youngco-operatives.coop

3. Ten Years After • 2003: Co-operation and Learning CfBT/Mutuo/Co-operative College “demonstrated schools success in securing commitment from a range of stakeholder groups in achieving high standards” Adding “just small steps were needed from Government to enable co-operative schools to emerge in the UK” www.co-op.ac.uk www.youngco-operatives.coop

4. Co-operative schools • 552 Co-operative trust schools September 2013 plus 85 associate/partner schools – over 100 consulting • 6 Co-operative sponsor academies sponsored by the Co- operative Group – in Manchester Stoke on Trent and Leeds • 33 Co-operative converter academies September 2013 • National network – the Schools Co-operative Society

5. Co-operative schools – International experience • Schools run as co-operatives • Schools running co-operative enterprises • Teaching and learning about co-operatives • Co-operative pedagogy

6. Co-operative schools - International experience Over 600 Co-operative schools in Spain Over 80% of Primary schools in France teach co-operation Over 120 Co-operative schools in Portugal Over 100 co-operative schools in Sweden Over 1,900 school co-operatives in Malaysia Co-operative schools in Africa and South America Schools co-operatives in Poland celebrated their centenary in 2011 • • • • • • •

7. Co-operatives and the crisis “cooperatives have proved themselves to be even more resilient in times of crisis than many conventional enterprises” DRAFT REPORT on the contribution of cooperatives to overcoming the crisis Committee on Industry, Research and Energy – Feb 2013 www.co-op.ac.uk www.youngco-operatives.coop

8. Co-operatives and the crisis “this greater resilience is in large part due to the cooperative model of governance, which is based on joint ownership and democratic control by their member-stakeholders,” DRAFT REPORT on the contribution of cooperatives to overcoming the crisis Committee on Industry, Research and Energy – Feb 2013 www.co-op.ac.uk www.youngco-operatives.coop

9. Co-operatives and the crisis “considers that this model helps to ensure that cooperatives take a long- term approach and anchors them in the local economy, giving them a stake in local sustainable development and ensuring that they do not delocalise, even when they internationalise” DRAFT REPORT on the contribution of cooperatives to overcoming the crisis Committee on Industry, Research and Energy – Feb 2013 www.co-op.ac.uk www.youngco-operatives.coop

10. What is needed • Greater research into co-operatives – many disciplines – not just history! • Research into the practice of co- operation • Leading to • Teaching and learning about and for co- operation www.co-op.ac.uk www.youngco-operatives.coop

11. What is needed • Learning from wider international experience – Spain, Portugal, Japan, North America • Developing ideas on co-operatives alternatives to corporatisation of Universities and University services– welcoming a rich diversity of models • Confidence in co-operative possibilities www.co-op.ac.uk www.youngco-operatives.coop

12. The challenge from organic re-action to a movement • Challenging the dominant narrative and ideology • Creating space for a challenger • Maintaining autonomy, diversity and independence in an increasingly corporatised system • Building a democratic alternative model across te education system • Building the evidence base www.co-op.ac.uk www.youngco-operatives.coop

13. Unlikely allies? “The conditions are right for a resurgence of co-operative, mutual and reciprocal activity. And we will keep cutting back the red-tape and breaking the monopolies which constrain people who simply want to help each other. This is what our economy needs, it is what our public services need and I have no doubt it is the way of the future”. www.co-op.ac.uk www.youngco-operatives.coop

14. Further information mervyn@co-op.ac.uk Putting education at the heart of co-operation and co-operation at the heart of education www.co-op.ac.uk www.school.coop www.co- operativeschools.coop