A MAJOR step forward on the road to excellence at Tavistock College began yesterday (Wednesday), as a consultation process began on the proposal to become a co-operative trust school.

Changing the college's status from a 'community school' to a trust school would mean the college would still be funded by the local authority and would still follow the national curriculum.

But it will be supported by a charitable trust, whose key aim would be to achieve the best possible outcomes for students by engaging with the wider community.

Initially, there would be two partners involved in the trust, in addition to the Co-operative Movement — UCP Marjon and Tavistock Chamber of Commerce. As the trust develops, more partners may join, including local primary schools, other universities and businesses.

A previous bid to go down the trust status route was abandoned five years ago, when teaching unions were strongly opposed to the idea.

But Helen Salmon, the college principal, said times had changed and the charitable trust model being proposed was 'a very different animal'.

'Co-operative trusts are new,' said Mrs Salmon. 'Interestingly, nearly every school in Cornwall bar one has gone down this route.

'We are not the only school in Devon thinking about it, Totnes has done it, and a lot of places are consulting on it.

'It's genuinely about involving the community and building partnerships and co-operative ways of working.'

Mrs Salmon said the college already had very good links with Tavistock Chamber which were already being put to good, constructive use for the benefit of students.

'Marjon is very keen to work with us and this link is going to be fantastic in terms of staff training, research programmes etc.

'We are aiming that more than half of our staff will be Masters-qualified and this will impact on teaching and on our students' results,' said Mrs Salmon, who is also keen to build partnerships with ICT companies.

'We really need to develop our IT strengths.

'We have had some talks with Apple — we are having an Ipad day in September, so we are starting to dip a toe in the water there.'

Mrs Salmon said Tavistock was a diverse, interesting community which had huge skill reserves.

'It's a great opportunity for us and very forward looking. Education has changed, the Government doesn't give out large amounts of money any more.

'I am a realist — we have to look at new partnerships and different ways of working,' said Mrs Salmon, who said the co-operative values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others fitted the Tavistock community 'like a glove'.

Mrs Salmon said feedback from teachers so far had been very positive and the governing body had voted unanimously to go ahead with the move.

Mrs Salmon said: 'We are out of special measures, we are now in a position to really start to forge ahead and look to the future.'

The consultation period will run for a month after which time the governing body will make its decision on the way forward, based on the results of a questionnaire and a series of meetings being held on Thursday, May 3.

Alison Malcolm, chair of governors at the college, said: 'We are delighted to be starting the process of consulting with students, staff, parents and the community about our exciting plans to seek co-operative trust status.

'This would allow us to build strong co-operative  values as well as developing  social responsibility to drive sustained improvements in the college.

'This would be through a real sense of ownership by students, staff and the wider community of Tavistock, who have so much to give to the school in terms of local  knowledge and perhaps even apprenticeship opportunities for some students.

'It would be an opportunity for us to build long term relationships with our partners and learn from their expertise and experiences to help Tavistock College reach its goal of becoming an outstanding school.'

Nigel Eadie, chairman of Tavistock Chamber of Commerce, said: 'The partnership between the chamber and the college is a natural one really, as we have been working with the college for the last two or three years particularly helping youngsters with practice for interview situations.

'Becoming a co-operative trust would be a major step forward for the college with the ability to have more control over its own destiny and less restrictions.

'People will, over the short term, see some quite significant changes.'

Margaret Noble, principal of UCP Marjon said: 'The university is pleased to support and work with Tavistock College on their new development of the Cooperative Trust.

'This partnership will build on existing strong links between the two institutions and enable us to work jointly, raising aspirations and attainment of pupils, developing opportunities for progression and a range of opportunities for continuing professional development for all staff within Tavistock College.'