BOLTON'S school leaders are set to work on leadership development with education and training providers across the region.

More than 30 local schools have joined forces to establish the new National College for School Leadership affiliated centre based at the University of Manchester

Through the centre, Bolton school leaders can access a wide range of professional development programmes and research opportunities.

The centre also heralds the beginnings of strong working partnerships between different education and training bodies as it involves every LEA in the region.

Heather Du Quesnay, Chief Executive of NCSL, said: "As things are school leaders must struggle to make sense of all the varied leaflets about leadership development which arrive on their desks.

"Through the centres we hope to create greater coherence as well as some real dynamism which will ensure all our programmes are leading edge and in touch with the needs of the profession."