Report on Academies Meeting

Withington Co-op Party held one of its infrequent meetings, Wednesday 19th last. The turn-out was a little disappointing but the quality of the speakers and the questions made the night. First we heard Cllr. Sheila Newman (Labour : Chorlton) give the City Council's support for academies with certain conditions being set by the authority. Then Megs Bradley gave a presentation on The Co-operative support with 5 academies being planned. Followed by Hannah Spiers from the new Manchester Academy to be in Blackley. Other subjects discussed were the new co-operative trust schools. The first one is running in Reddish Vale, Stockport. The questions were very direct and open. As education is a department that costs lots of money the funding and finance issues were aired.

Co-operative School first

Ed Balls (Labour / Co-op MP and Education Secretary) has been in the news a bit this week. Well the plan to put cookery lessons back in the curriculum was most welcome, or rather it was one lesson a week for 11 to 14 year olds. Can't possibly comment as I learnt to cook from watching tv how-to programmes, but it's all masterchef competition entertainment these days.

"In the morning (21st January) he was at Reddish Vale Technology College in nearby Stockport - in the process of becoming England's first school to be run by a co-operative trust.

Co-operative status would give staff and parents a say in the running of the school through democratic process. Parents, local organisations and even pupils could become members of the trust and help to make decisions." from Manchester Evening News story.
Also in the Financial Times "Balls raises prospect of school co-op model to rival academies" story.