A New Era

A New Era Dawns for Bebington High Sports College

See Wirral News Article

A new era for Bebington High Sports College began on the 1st April 2009 when it became the first Co-operative Trust School in the borough and the whole of Merseyside. We are one of only 6 schools in the country who are Co-operatives however over the next year we will have a network of up to 100 of such schools all mutually supporting their communities and each other. We are at the forefront of one of the most significant developments in education in England for more than 50 years.

The new co-operative structure will give everyone in the school and the wider community an opportunity to be involved in the running of the school and further raising the achievement of its students. 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.
Bebington High Sports College has 4 supporting partners in the Trust: Liverpool John Moores University, Barnardos, Tranmere Rovers in the Community and Merseyside Sports Partnership. These partnerships are integral in improving further the support for all of the students, thereby ensuring the highest levels of achievements and personal development.

Brian Jordan, Headteacher said: “The formation of the Co-operative 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 that has co-operative values and principles at its heart”.

Our Vision and Values

We are creating a holistic and fully inclusive education at Bebington High Sports College with a central focus on raising achievement for all our students. In achieving this vision we are becoming the centre for the development of life-long learning for our community. We are passionate about improving and enhancing the life chances of our students and stakeholders with particular focus on high levels of achievement, promoting and supporting health and well-being, sport, arts and career progression. Developing our school site into a ‘first class’ facility that our students, parents and the wider community are happy and proud to access in order to enhance their own academic fulfilment as well as facilitating their ability to strengthen their own physical, social and mental fitness.

Every Child Matters is the focus of our school - how will our partners help us to achieve the vision and values

Being Healthy

We are providing greater opportunities for our students to participate in a wider range and greater frequency of physical education and sporting activities through our club partners and Merseyside Sports Partnership input into health promotion and monitoring. We have enhanced opportunity for parental and wider community involvement in sports and fitness programmes. We are also Improving swift and easy access to referral and support for students, parents and the community in relation to emotional, social, health and economic well-being supported by our partner Barnardos.

Staying Safe

Our extended service provision from 8.00 – 18.00 for all students, in the evenings 18.00 – 21.00 and all day Saturday ensures that provision is available for students and the community in order for them partake in a variety of activities. Our many Co-operative community partners will ensure that we provide what the community wants and needs. Our partner Barnardos will work closely with our students and parents helping them to develop safe and fulfilled lives.

Enjoying & Achieving

We will continue to further raise the achievement of our students via curriculum development, by improving teaching and learning and raising the aspirations of our students. Our partner Liverpool John Moores University are integral in supporting these developments and offer support for staff, students and parents. Our partners Tranmere Rovers in the Community will support our students and young people in our local community of schools to develop literacy and numeracy skills which are the foundation for future success. We are increasing further our Sport/Dancing, Art and Drama enhancement activities available Out of School Hours for students and the local community.

Making a positive contribution to society

All our partners are supporting our drive to raise positive self worth and self-assertiveness by increased participation in whole school and community life e.g. Youth Parliament, use of Junior Sport’s Leader Award and Community Sport’s Leader Award with primary pupils by our students. The Co-operative community forum will be integral to delivering the vision and ethos of the school.
Economic Well-Being – All our partners will support widening curriculum opportunities, raised achievements and leadership activities preparing our students for future employment progression with a focus on co-operative mutual values for economic success of all our community

Co-operative values are the foundation of all we do

• Self help – we will develop all our students, staff and all members of our community to be able to lead independent lives
• Self responsibility – we will ensure that all our students staff and all members of our community to understand and live their lives taking responsibility for their actions
• Equality – We will ensure that our students staff and all members of our community understand fairness and equality for all
• Equitable – We believe that all members of our community have equal value and that no one has more worth than another
• Solidarity – By developing a community ethos we support all our members in a mutual way becoming a caring society

Quote from Mervyn Wilson Principal of the Co-operative College

On behalf of the Co-operative College, may I congratulate Bebington High Sports College on becoming a Trust, and in particular in becoming one of the first schools to adopt the co-operative model? This will ensure that all stakeholders, particularly parents, staff, learners and community organisations have their chance in playing a part in developing the work of the Trust. We look forward to Bebington Trust becoming an active part of a growing network of schools sharing values and committed to transforming expectations and achievement for the benefit of learners and their communities.