Children, staff and parent volunteers travelled from Western Springs Primary School, Rugeley, to Moorhill Primary School, Cannock, to celebrate becoming The Chase Co-operative Learning Trust. Students took part in Science, D&T, Art, PE and Maths activities, presented in stimulating and exciting ways. They also had the opportunity to take time out to meet and greet each other socially and to share lunchtime. Moorhill’s Year 6 students calculated quantities and costs of ice cream treats as part of their Maths SATS preparations!

The inaugural meeting of The Chase Co-operative Learning Trust took place at the same time, giving Trust members the opportunity to be included.

The Trust comprises very strong partners and both Headteachers, Shirley Wellings and Sandra Peck, are delighted with Trust plans for the future. Partners include South Staffordshire College, which will be providing courses for parents, especially those to help them support their children; Wolverhampton University, which will continue to work with both schools to develop mathematical skills; and The Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, which will continue to support the schools’ environmental projects.

Staff from Pye Green Valley Primary will join with both schools to work on curriculum matters, including the National Revised Curriculum. Wednesbury Learning Community Trust schools are also networking with Moorhill and Western Springs, and as this is an established Trust, it brings with it much experience and expertise.

Cannock Chase District Council is most supportive of the Trust and works with both schools to develop projects in the localities to benefit both children and families, which in turn enables the children to focus on their educational studies.

The Co-operative College has extensive experience in helping to found and organise the network of co-operative schools, of which the schools are now members. The co-operative movement will help bring a global dimension to the school and assist in extending existing national and international links.

The students will all become members of the co-operative society and will have the opportunity to contribute to decision making and planning for their futures.

See photos of the celebrations here.

The 13-strong team from food stores in Shropshire and Staffordshire joined Sutherland’s eco-gardeners to prepare the raised beds for planting fruit, vegetables and bedding plants and also repaired polytunnels which had become damaged over the winter.

Midcounties’ colleagues have been regular helpers at the eco garden since it was started three years ago. The community retailer has strong links to Sutherland, which became one of the first co-operative Trust schools in the country in 2008, and has given support in a number of ways.

Community co-ordinator Louise Brown said: “It was great being back at Sutherland and we enjoyed working on the eco garden project. Supporting another co-operative is what this year as International Year of Co-operatives is all about, showing the value of working together for the good of all.

“During the day the catering and hospitality students prepared lunch for us as part of their course work and school trustee Simon Fisher, our Group General Manager of Co-operative Funeralcare, joined us too. The buffet of salads and dips plus chocolate cake and ice cream the students had made themselves was fantastic.”

Teacher Adrian Parker said: “Midcounties has been brilliant in helping us to establish and maintain our eco garden. They really help us to get things moving and the students welcome the support and advice they give.

“We are planning to grow our own vegetables again.  A lot of last year’s crop was used to make pickles and chutneys and they were a best seller! The group is also planning to grow some bedding plants and plant up some baskets and containers this year. The students not only learn about gardening and produce, but it also helps them develop their communication skills and team work.”

Sutherland is involved with The Royal Horticultural Society’s Campaign for School Gardening and the RHS School Gardening Advisor will be in school during May working with students and providing training for staff, students and parents. Sutherland is also working with local primary schools to promote wider community use of the garden.

As well as supporting Sutherland, Midcounties has an extensive colleague volunteer programme that provides assistance where it is needed in the communities where it trades. Each colleague can spend up to three days a year on volunteering activity as part of their paid work time.

Dr Linda Shaw, Vice Principal – Research and International at the Co-operative College, welcomed the visitors, giving an overview of the co-operative movement in the UK.

The guests then saw co-operative buildings old and new during a tour of the Co-operative Group’s complex including, the new head office which is currently under construction, and met with the manager of a Co-operative store to find out about the range of products on sale. They also met Paul Flowers, Chair of the Co-operative Bank.

Whole Education is a not-for-profit organisation that brings together leading education projects which demonstrate a commitment to a more rounded education for young people. The conference will bring together leading educationalists, school leaders and over 20 Whole Education partner projects from across the country, including the Co-operative College.

Speakers:

Alan Yellup, Executive Head, Wakefield City Academy, will share the key transferable lessons from the Academy’s development to become an outstanding school.

Angela Armytage, Headteacher, Yewlands Technology College, Sheffield, will describe the change journey of Yewlands and its ‘Family of (Primary) Schools’.

The conference will take place at Leeds United Football Club, East Stand, Elland Road, Leeds, LS11 0ES, on Thursday 24 May. It costs £175 for schools, £225 for Local Authorities, charities and universities and £295 Full Price. Book before 27 April to receive early bird discount using the code EAR33.

For more details visit www.wholeeducation.org or call 020 7250 8054.

It was the first time a member of the Royal Family has visited the school in Prince Regent Lane. The whole school of more than 1,000 students joined invited guests to watch as he unveiled a plaque in the school’s rotunda reception area to mark the occasion.

Prince Andrew was greeted by head girl Lola Kim-Jamal; head boy Sam Knight; Headteacher Ruth Martin; Deputy Mayor Councillor Lester Hudson; Tim Harrison, the chair of governors; and Teresa Onyemah, head of inclusion.

The royal guest was shown around a new wing that houses the specialist PMLD facilities. They are part of a £2.9 million package of improvements paid for by the Building Schools for the Future programme. The BSF work remodelled the interior space at the school to accommodate the PLMD wing, improve the dining space, relocate the drama studio and create a multi-use games area. It was carried out by developers Jerram Falkus.

The PMLD wing caters for 22 pupils, 18 of whom have complex medical needs. There are enhanced classrooms with large computer screens and keyboards and a sensory room with coloured lights and different music. A room is also set up as a life skills flat complete with bedroom and kitchen designed to teach independent living. Prince Andrew enjoyed some home baking with pupils in the flat.

Headteacher Ruth Martin said: “It was a privilege to welcome such a distinguished guest to open our PMLD provision. We were delighted that we could share with him the work and achievements of our students of whom we are very proud and for whom we have very high hopes and aspirations. All our young people were very well behaved.”

Deputy Mayor Councillor Hudson said: “The new wing is a great example of the state of the art facilities that the BSF programme has introduced here and at other schools in Newham. All of our pupils deserve to have the best.”

His Royal Highness also saw a drama class and enjoyed a music performance by PMLD students with a solo sung by Alya Sheik. He was presented with a picture by pupil Mehwish Shazadi.

The official co-operative Trust launch at the school coincided not just with Northfleet’s 75th anniversary, but with the opening of the school’s new buildings, which were developed under the Building Schools for the Future programme, and have brought the school’s Modernist architecture up to date for twenty first century learning. The event included a tour of the new facilities, as well as a reunion for former students.

Northfleet has joined with partners The Co-operative Group, University of Greenwich, North West Kent College and Age UK to form the Northfleet School for Girls Co-operative Learning Trust, and will also work with the University of the First Age, Workers’ Education Association and Kent Children’s University.

Headteacher Julie Wilson said becoming a co-operative Trust will embed the co-operative values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity in the school. She said: “This bold step was to reflect the values the school had always had. They underpin our daily lives and work. This is a very special school.”

At the heart of co-operative Trust schools is a multi-stakeholder model, with members drawn from staff, students, parents/carers and members of the local community. Northfleet will be open to all ages, from primary students who will be able to take part in activities at the school to elderly people who will be able to use an outdoor gym. Students are encouraged to volunteer and participate in the community.

Speaking at the launch event Lord De L’Isle, Lord Lieutenant of Kent, told students: “A co-operative learning Trust is preparing you to achieve great things when you leave education to join the knowledge-based economy. You are the future of our county.”

David Rodgers, Executive Director of the housing co-operative body CDS Co-operatives, spoke on behalf of the co-operative movement saying that, with 2012 designated the United Nations’ first International Year of Co-operatives, Northfleet “could not have chosen a better time to become a co-operative Trust school”.

Mr Rodgers demonstrated the scale of the co-operative movement across the globe by noting that there are more members of co-operatives than Facebook users worldwide. He said: “Co-operatives are good for people and good for the planet. Co-operatives are resilient at times of economic crisis and help promote economic development, peace and prosperity.”

Northfleet joins more than 200 co-operative schools across England, although it is one of the first schools to become a co-operative Trust in Kent. Mr Rodgers described the growth of co-operative schools as “dramatic and encouraging”.

He said: “Co-operatives are found in every sector of the economy. I hope that one day, soon, co-operative schools like yours and co-operative colleges and universities will have an ICA global education sector to represent you and promote the development of co-operative education.”

Mr Rodgers presented the school with a rainbow flag, the symbol of the International Co-operative Alliance (ICA), explaining it represents the diversity of the co-operative movement and said: “It is my pleasure to welcome you, and your school, to the global co-operative family.”

Mr Rodgers was given in return an artwork based on the school logo, which he said will go on display in the Rochdale Pioneers Museum in Toad Lane Rochdale, birthplace of the modern-day co-operative movement, when it reopens later in the spring.

The conference was organised by Common Equity Housing Limited, South East Housing Co-operative Limited and bankmecu, Australia’s first member-owned bank, and attended by hundreds of delegates including members of housing co-operatives, housing service professionals, building industry professionals and academics.

The event celebrated the diversity of housing co-operatives in Australia and their potential to create opportunities and build communities, tying in with 2012 International Year of Co-operatives.

Read more at: www.australia2012.coop/news-and-events/latest-news/march-2012/housing-just-beginning

Further images:

[Show as slideshow]

The Meet the Pioneers resource for schools was produced by The Co-operative College using materials from the National Co-operative Archive in Manchester and the Rochdale Pioneers Museum in Toad Lane, which is housed in the building where the Pioneers set up their original shop.

The pack introduces the lives and the historical context of the Rochdale Pioneers, including their different backgrounds and personalities, from the joke teller to the avid letter writer.

Meet the Pioneers compiles stimulating activities on topics such as life expectancy, housing, working conditions, education, food and political movements, as well as taking the heritage of the Pioneers forward by showcasing case studies of 12 modern-day co-operatives around the world.

For more information contact julie@co-op.ac.uk.

At the heart of co-operative schools is a democratic, multi-stakeholder membership structure that works to embed the co-operative values and principles by engaging students, staff, parents and carers and members of the local community.

In practice, co-operative schools have worked to develop their membership offer in different ways, from offering incentives such as discounts at co-operative shops to providing training for staff and students and facilities for the community.

Members are expected to take an active part in the life of a co-operative school. At Wey Valley School & Sports College in Dorset, the school council has the power to question policy on uniform, the canteen and the curriculum. There are designated student leaders and a Trust Student Panel. Student members can take part in activities such as eco-warriors, a Fairtrade group and an enterprise club.

Philip Thomas, Headteacher of Wey Valley, advised delegates: “Go with what can be achieved and grown rather than trying to get everything in place from the start. Membership is not just a practical label – to have its greatest effect it needs to be an emotional attachment.”

He added: “The co-operative values are recognised as enabling principles alongside other national and international values held by the schools on the campus.”

Karen Healey, Headteacher of Birches Head High School in Stoke-on-Trent, said the school tries to engage members in the Trust through “authentic action”. The Trust’s logo was designed through a primary and secondary school competition and the Trust works closely with partners such as local businesses and the police. It also offers facilities for the community, such as silver surfer internet sessions.

Vanessa Scargill and Duncan Spalding from Aylsham High School in Norfolk said the purpose of the Aylsham Cluster Trust was to “promote learning and the interests of the family and the wider community in the Aylsham cluster area”.

Vanessa Scargill, Director of Community Strategy, explained: “Our vision is to develop a network of members who both contribute to and benefit from the work of the Trust in order to help our young people, families and ultimately our communities to continue to thrive.”

In practice, she said: “It is crucial that the concept of mutualism underpins all that we do. Anyone volunteering their time for the benefit of other should see some kind of benefit themselves, even if this is simply the sense of personal satisfaction that comes from helping others.”

The seminar provided useful, practical advice for all who attended, as well as a chance to share experiences. Karen Healey from Birches Head said: “The seminar gave real food for thought and some lights for different paths I am travelling at the moment whilst we are finding our way.”

Ana Rey and Ana Torrado started at the Co-operative College at the beginning of March and will stay until July. Ana Rey, from Seville, has a background in marketing and is working on the relaunch of the Rochdale Pioneers Museum, which will reopen in spring following a major refurbishment.

Ana Torrado, from the beach-side town of San Pedro in Malaga, would like to pursue a career in event management and PR. She is assisting the College with upcoming events being held for the International Year of Co-operatives. This includes helping plan the Meet the Pioneers schools event in Rochdale in May, which will introduce students and teachers to the story of the Rochdale Pioneers, and assisting with preparation for the College’s Mainstreaming Co-operation conference in July.

Ana Rey has degrees in advertising and PR and marketing at the University of Seville, and a Masters in web design. Anna Torrado also studied advertising and PR, at the University of Malaga.  Both concluded their studies in 2011.

Ana Rey explains what attracted her to marketing: “When I was studying publicity and advertising I realised I really like marketing. In the future I would like to work in a marketing department as you have to do research and investigate a lot and make conclusions about why people like something or not and how to communicate to them.”

Ana Torrado’s enthusiasm for event management is the result of organising an ethical event for schools when she studied in Holland as an exchange student. It raised funds for two African students to study in Holland. She said: “It was rewarding and a lot of fun. A lot of students came.”

Event management also appeals because, says Ana: “I want a job where there is constantly work to do and it is different everyday and you are always surprised.”

Ana Rey has extensive work experience in Spain. She worked on communications for Heineken, where she helped with a magazine for employees. She also worked in the marketing department of a software company. While she was doing her Masters in web design she worked for an advertising company.

Despite this, it is still hard to find a job. She explained: “I can’t find a job in Spain as the situation is really bad. I want to improve my English and meet new people and learn what it’s like to work abroad. If you don’t know English you can’t get a job in Spain. Everyone has a lot of degrees and everyone always has something better than you. You always need to be the best in everything.”

Ana Torrado agreed: “There is a really big crisis in Spain. It’s really, really difficult for young people. All you can get is just unpaid internships, but no contracts. As soon as one person finishes an internship, there is another graduate ready to take their place so there is no incentive for companies to hire anyone.”

Both Ana Rey and Ana Torrado are well travelled and studied in Holland through the Erasmus programme during their degrees. They agree that it is important to live in other countries and explore other cultures. Ana Torrado said: “I love travelling and living in different countries – this is my fourth! I love learning about different cultures. It’s important and it helps you both personally and professionally.”

Some of Ana Rey and Ana Torrado’s experiences of Manchester so far have surprised them, especially its ethnic mix. Ana Rey said: “I was surprised by the mix of cultures in Manchester. I like that because you can see people from all the countries and everyone is the same. There is no difference.” Ana Torrado observed: “Most of the people in Manchester aren’t from here.”

Another point of difference between the UK and Spain is the working day, for example only having one hour for lunch. Ana Rey also highlighted the lack of kitchens in workplaces in Spain – and the British love of tea! She said: “Everyone is drinking tea here. I enjoy that! I have never seen that before in a company. It makes people speak to each other and creates a nice environment.” Ana Torrado added: “You can drink tea while you’re doing work!”

Both Ana Rey and Ana Torrado have learned a lot about co-operatives since they have been at the College. Ana Rey said: “Co-operatives are really interesting. It’s a different way to do things.” Ana Torrado added: “I like the way co-operatives work and they way they treat their staff. I really like their philosophy of one member one vote – democracy!”

They will be more aware of co-operatives when they return to Spain. Ana Torrado is a big football fan, but had not realised Barcelona FC or her favourite football team, Real Madrid, are co-operatives.

Ana Rey and Ana Torrado are looking forward to making the most of their time at the College. Ana Torrado said: She said. “I am looking forward to doing my job as well as possible and doing creative events and seeing them be a success. I also want to learn as much as I can. I hope we have a lot of fun and get along with everyone and I hope you enjoy our company. I hope we get to know Manchester.”

Ana Rey concluded: “I’m looking forward to being useful and doing real things.”