Schools across Essex are considering buying in services from a private company.
The 31 schools are thinking about buying in the key services from private company Serco.
Essex County Council had been involved in consultations with schools after receiving a pilot grant to look at forming a partnership.
But after the council decided not to continue with the idea the group of schools decided to explore the plan themsleves.
Nicholas Pavitt, headteacher of Colbayns High School, Clacton, said the Association of Secondary Head Teachers in Essex (ASHE) decided it could work with Serco.
The company is due to present a paper to school governors in the autumn.
His school has an annual budget of £6 million and he added: "It might be in the future that it could be more cost effective for me to purchase from a new partnership."
The private company could provide schools with services such as auditing, grounds maintenance, pay roll or legal services depending on the individual needs of schools.
Published Tuesday, June 3, 2003
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