PUPILS are to sit side-by-side with teachers and business leaders to take decisions about the future of their school.

Reddish Vale Technology College will be the first co-operative school in the country - meaning pupils, parents, local residents and employers will get a vote on the way it is run.

The revolutionary idea has been hailed as a way of making education more 'democratic' and is backed by the 150-year-old Co-operative movement.

Although state-funded, the 1,400-pupil secondary is already semi-independent of Stockport town hall, with powers to set pay and conditions.

School bosses are encouraging parents, pupils and anyone with an interest to join a new co-operative trust.

Although the day-to-day decisions will still be taken by the head and governors, the trust will have powers over important matters such as land and facilities and also play an important scrutinising role.

It is hoped the trust will have about 2,000 members by the end of the year. Co-operative Group chief executive Peter Marks will be one of them.

Other members who will share their expertise include Manchester Metropolitan University academics, councillors and local shop owners.

Headteacher Jenny Campbell said: "I am sure the trust will make a significant contribution to standards and will give us a stable platform on which to continue to develop so that we can meet the changing needs of our local communities." Tweet