NASUWT and Schools Co-operative Society enter landmark agreement |

Wednesday 18th July 2012 | 10:01

NASUWT and Schools Co-operative Society enter landmark agreement

NASUWT press release

NASUWT AND SCHOOLS CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY ENTER LANDMARK AGREEMENT

The NASUWT, the largest teachers' union, and the Schools Co-operative Society, have today entered into a landmark agreement to help ensure that state schools remain not-for-profit and democratically-accountable to the public and parents.

The agreement highlights co-operative trusts as a democratic alternative for schools to the academy chains and the privatisation and marketisation agenda.

Dave Boston, Chief Executive of the Schools Co-operative Society said:

"Co-operatives and trade unions come from the same background, traditions, shared beliefs and values.

"Our two organisations will work together to ensure that schools serve the best interests of children and young people, parents and carers, the workforce and the wider community.

"Co-operative schools are growing rapidly as more and more schools see co-operation rather than competition as the best way of achieving sustainable schools improvement."

NASUWT General Secretary Chris Keates said:

"This positive agreement represents an alternative to the privatisation agenda that sets school against school and puts parents and pupils at the mercy of the free market.

"It will give schools a safe place from predatory, profit-making private providers.

"This agreement underlines the values and ethos of state education, fairness, social justice, equality and provision for all children which is free at the point of use.

"Collaboration and co-operation is in the best interests of all children and young people."

Mervyn Wilson, Principal of the Co-operative College, which has led the development of co-operative schools, said:

"This agreement reflects the traditions of the Co-operative Movement over the last 200 years as embodied by Robert Owen and the Owenites who set up the first Co-operative schools.

"It is a landmark agreement and can only help build on successes to date in building a democratic and accountable alternative to the rapid growth of the sponsor academy chains."

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