Private and state schools are to be encouraged to set up partnerships, with the support of government funding.

The schools minister, Stephen Timms, is set to announce �800,000 to back 35 new partnership schemes in England in the next academic year.

In particular, the scheme is seeking to develop projects for gifted pupils and in music or citizenship - and any school can apply for funding.

The government wants private and state schools to share facilities and expertise - and by 2005 it wants 80% of local authorities to have established such local links between schools.

And there will be a permanent forum to develop such partnerships, bringing together representatives of state and private schools.

There has already been �3m in support for projects involving an initial 500 schools from the state and private sectors.

Breaking barriers

Mr Timms said that the links between sectors would "break down traditional barriers so that we can raise achievement and widen opportunities across the state and independent sector".

He quoted the example of an arrangement in Poole, in which the local education authority had linked two private schools with eight state schools

"As well as reporting an immediate rise in the confidence and commitment of pupils, teachers involved say they have benefited from discussions and the exchange of ideas with colleagues."

The proposals were warmly welcomed by the Independent Schools Council, which praised the approach of successive Labour education ministers.

And the council anticipated that the partnerships could become a "permanent feature of the education system".

"This will bring great benefits for pupils and teachers in schools of all kinds, as pioneering good practice spreads," said a spokesperson for the independent schools organisation.