Bebington High Sports College teams up with Tranmere Rovers to become “co-operative trust”

Apr 8 2009 by Liam Murphy, Bromborough and Bebington News

A WIRRAL school is set to become one of the first in the country to take up the new status as a “co-operative trust” – with football team Tranmere Rovers as its partner.

Bebington High Sports College will bring in a new era for education in the borough, with everyone in the school’s community given an opportunity to be involved in its running.

The four supporting partners in the trust will be Liverpool John Moores University, Barnardo’s, Tranmere Rovers In The Community and Merseyside Sports Partnership.

Head teacher Brian Jordan said: “The formation of the charitable trust is the result of 18 months of hard work with all of our partners.

“The fantastic partnerships and community ownership will ensure that our students receive the highest quality of education and support, enabling them to lead successful and fulfilling lives.

“It provides the parents of Wirral with a fantastic opportunity to send their daughter or son to a school which has co-operative values and principles at its heart.”

The co-operative or mutual model is based on open membership, equal democratic participation (one member, one vote) and the clear accountability of those in charge to those for whom services are provided.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls announced funding in September for a pilot of up to 100 co-operative trust schools.

Bebington High joins four other new school trusts starting today in West Yorkshire, Bedfordshire, Thurrock and Southampton.

They join the first two co-operative trust schools – Reddish Vale Technology College in Stockport and Campsmount Technology College, in Doncaster.

Mr Balls said: “As I have seen for myself in schools around the country, involving parents, the local community and external partners in the governance of schools can have a huge impact on standards.

“The co-operative model is an ideal way of doing this because it puts power in the hands of those who are directly engaged with local schools, and who know best what is needed in their own area.”

Russell Gill, head of Membership at The Co-operative Group, said: “The co-operative model allows all stakeholders greater participation in the running of the school and our values that date back more than 150 years, offer schools an ethos which we believe can lead to higher standards.”