aOKEHAMPTON College could become a co-operative trust school — a consultation process began on the proposal earlier this month.

Currently a 'community school', the college is funded by the local authority and follows the national curriculum.

If it becomes a trust school, that would remain the same. But it would be supported by a charitable trust, whose key aim would be to achieve the best possible outcomes for students by engaging with the wide community.

Initially, the trust would have two partners besides the Co-operative Movement: Okehampton United Charity, and Devon County Council, represented by the local ward member. As the trust develops over time, other partners may join, including local businesses and organisations.

Two potential partners the college are engaging with are the University of Plymouth, following their work together on the Devon Children's University, and EDF Energy.

The college has been networking with other schools going through the same process, including Tavistock College and Dawlish Community College.

Principal Daryll Chapman said: 'We've found working with schools in Devon in particular, with schools with a very similar focus and facing similar issues, is proving to be advantageous.

'The view is very much that we want to maintain control of our school, and stay part of the local authority. We're not advocates of the academy process, so we want to find a way to stay with the local authority.

'This, to me, is a way of doing that, preserving everything that is good in the college and building on the new partnerships we are going to get out of this.'

The college is part of the Dartmoor Federation of schools, linked with Exbourne, Lydford, Boasley Cross and Bridestowe primary schools. The governors of the Dartmoor Federation are proposing to set up a mutual co-operative membership trust, that acts as the legal foundation for the consulting schools.

The governing body would continue to be responsible for running the college, and teachers would be employed on the same terms and conditions. Staff would be employed by the governing body, not the local authority. The college buildings and grounds would be held by the trust.

The consultation started last week and runs until Wednesday, July 11. Parents, carers and students have been sent information on the potential move, and have been asked to share their thoughts with the college.

A consultation day took place at the college on Monday, June 25, with separate meetings from professional associations, staff across the Dartmoor Federation schools, parent consultations and an open public meeting.

The college has resisted becoming an academy school — academies are publicly funded schools which operate outside local authority control.

Chairman of the governors Ian Courtenay, explained the college's decision to resist becoming an academy to town councillors at a council meeting on June 18: 'My general view is that there is something about becoming an academy school that would break up the co-operative nature of the learning community, and it becomes education as a business.

'We had to think, would this be the right thing for our children, or our staff, or the town?

'There is a genuine community interest in what we are trying to do. The community would have a legitimate say in what the college does, and the trust has to listen to what people say.

'The co-operative is about treating people, staff and pupils, with dignity and respect. It is not about ownership or making money, and it is about working together as a community.'