Why co-operation belongs at the heart of England’s schools system 

23 February 2026

By Russell Gill, Head of Member and Co-operative Engagement at The Co-op Group; Chair of Co-op Academies Trust 

The ambition of the 'Every child achieveing and thriving' white paper, to place co-operation at the heart of the schools’ system, is a welcome moment for education. It signals a shift towards collaboration, civic partnership and coherent local landscapes, recognising that no school can deliver for every child in isolation. If the system is to meet the challenges ahead, including supporting children with SEND and making best use of limited resources, collaboration must be embedded in how schools work together. 

If co-operation is the ambition, then the structures and values that underpin it matter. For more than 180 years, the co-operative model has offered a values-led approach grounded in shared responsibility, democratic accountability and community benefit. At its core, it is about schools working together with purpose while remaining rooted in the communities they serve. 

That is why we strongly welcome the opportunity to revise and update the Co-operative Articles of Association for academy trusts. These articles provide a practical framework for schools to collaborate at scale while preserving values, identity and local purpose. 

The Government has set an ambition to double the size of the co-operative economy, encouraging co-operative approaches across sectors including housing, energy, finance and education. Few areas of public life align more naturally with co-operative principles than schools. Values such as self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity resonate deeply with the moral purpose that drives education. 

Many maintained schools and smaller trusts want the benefits of collaboration but remain cautious about losing their ethos or connection to local communities. A co-operative model offers a way for schools to share expertise, resources and support while maintaining strong local identity and civic connection. 

Through Co-op Academies Trust, we have seen how this vision comes alive in practice. Serving communities across the North of England, the Trust works closely with local authorities, civic partners and community organisations, combining the strength of a wider family of schools with meaningful local engagement. That balance matters. Schools benefit from shared expertise, collective resilience and a common co-operative purpose, while still reflecting the character and ambitions of the communities they serve. This is collaboration in action: values-led, locally rooted and focused on improving outcomes for young people. 

This approach is not about centralisation or corporate control. It is about enabling partnership, strengthening civic relationships and creating the conditions that encourage mutual support, shared learning and collective responsibility for helping young people thrive. 

The White Paper creates a green light to renew and strengthen this approach. Updating the Co-operative Articles of Association offers an opportunity to modernise the model so it can support collaboration at greater scale while remaining values-led and locally grounded. 

At Co-op, alongside others in the wider co-operative movement, including other co-operative schools, we are keen to play our part in shaping what comes next. We look forward to working with schools, local authorities and civic partners to explore how co-operative approaches can strengthen communities and help every child thrive.