Some authorities are finding it easy to adapt to this role. It is noticeable that partnership working seems to be more embedded in those authorities such as Birmingham, Kent, Knowsley, Lewisham, Oldham and Tower Hamlets where there has been a deliberate policy decision to develop partnership working among all the secondary schools in the area.

For other authorities the challenge of moving towards this more strategic way of working is proving tougher. One of the other questions in the ASCL survey revealed that lack of local authority support can be a significant barrier to partnership working. 

So, authorities need to develop the right enabling culture. And, if they need any further incentive, the new comprehensive area assessment is just round the corner. From 2009 authorities will be partly assessed on their capacity to partner with others on delivering change and improvement for their area – and schools and colleges will be one those important groups of partners.

Robert Hill was an adviser to ex-PM Tony Blair. His book on partnership working between schools, Achieving more together: Adding value through partnerships, was published earlier this month by the Association of School and College Leaders