TAVISTOCK College could become a co-operative trust by September — one of the first secondary schools in the county to make the move — following a unanimous thumbs up from governors.

The college has just completed an extensive consultation exercise on the proposal, involving staff, students, parents and the wider community.

The move, which would see the school continue to be funded by the local authority, but additionally supported by a newly established charitable trust, has been widely supported.

College principal Helen Salmon said she was encouraged by the response — and excited for the future of the school: 'We had a strong response to the consultation papers we sent out — 85 per cent were in favour, nine percent against and the rest undecided — and the good thing was we had far more actual comments than is normal, there were a lot of suggestions, which showed people were really thinking about it.

'We consulted with the students in all year groups. Sixth form students expressed some doubts but we were delighted that they wanted to engage in the debate. We had focus groups from each year and they really enjoyed getting involved.

'We invited the unions to the teachers' meetings — people did need reassurance, some support staff were worried about things like pensions — but we would still be funded by the local authority and they will still be part of the local government scheme, which is a good one.'

Mrs Salmon said once the governing body's decision to back the move to co-operative trust status has been ratified in July, the formal legal process would begin. The next move would be to form a board, comprising representatives from the governing body, the principal, the college's partners — Marjon and Tavistock Chamber of Commerce — and the community.

This board would meet perhaps four times a year, with the governing body still accountable for the day to day business of the school.

Mrs Salmon said she felt the co-operative ethos, and working with partners such as the chamber and Marjon, could bring huge benefits to the college.

'It's a vehicle to accelerate improvement — I think the teachers really see that. Through partnership working, there will be all sorts of benefits for the students and staff, whether it's through working experience, training programmes or research.

'Trusts can work in partnership with people to draw in extra funding. We need to replace some of our older buildings — I would dearly love to do something about our science block and I don't think the government is about to shower us with money.'

Mrs Salmon said once the trust had been formally set up, additional partners would be able to join — whether feeder primary schools, Plymouth University, or businesses — and increased opportunities would become available through such formal links.

'Having done this in Exeter — I set up the Ted Wragg Trust there, which wasn't a co-operative, but led to all sorts of opportunities. EDF was one of our partners and they sponsored a huge maths competition we did. Flybe and Exeter University were also in that trust.

'I think the key thing for teachers is it's a way of developing co-operative learning. We have become part of the Co-operative College and we have set up a stake holder forum. For me, it's about the local community really owning its own school. Anyone in Tavistock with an interest in education can join it and it's a way to really keep the school local.'

Alison Malcolm, chairman of governors at the college, said the governing body was delighted with the response of the community to the consultation.

She said: 'We have debated carefully the merits of going ahead as a co-operative trust, and the benefits that this could mean to the students, and feel that it would be a very positive step towards achieving our goal of becoming an 'outstanding' school.

'The schools co-operative movement is particularly strong in Cornwall, and it would be an exciting opportunity for Tavistock to be at the vanguard of a similar development in Devon.'