The job has been advertised for an executive head teacher to run three schools in Bramcote: Alderman White, Bramcote Hills and Bramcote Park.

It is the first such arrangement in the county and the right candidate could get paid �100,000.

In addition to the executive head teacher, each of the three schools would have its own assigned "leader".

No amalgamation

John Slater from the county's education department said the move would not amount to a merger of the schools.

"They have the benefits of some of the flexibility of a much bigger school - the possibilities for combining with sport, drama, music and so on - but without all the disadvantage of amalgamation and bringing children together under one roof," he said.

"This way there will be opportunity for the schools to come together in a more collaborative way over a period of time. We think it'll work better than a straight amalgamation."

The system has already been tried out in the Manchester area.

Principle of the Manchester Federation of EBS Schools Nell Banfield said: "There is a cost to that additional tier of management but the benefits you get far outweigh the costs.

"You get the benefit of supportive, collaborative leadership for the heads, and in these days of talking about work-life balance you do need that, with the demands on heads of extended schools, personalised learning and so on."