Independent and state schools in York will join forces to raise academic achievement amongst some of the city's most gifted pupils thanks to a successful bid for government funding.

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES) has announced that it will provide £100,000 for the initiative through the Independent/State School Partnership Grant Scheme.

The bid will enable joint working between local secondary schools, York College, Bootham School, the Mount and St Peter's, to support special master classes for able, gifted and talented pupils. The classes will start in September 2007 and will focus on the application of science skills in five areas: health; society; the humanities; art and the creative industries.

The funding will also allow teachers to work on their programmes with experts from the universities and heritage and business sector.

Patrick Scott, director of Learning, Culture or Children's Services, said: "I am delighted that our bid for funding has been successful. I hope that the initiative will help break down barriers between the independent and state sector and will ensure that we can all benefit from each other's experience."

Diana Gant, headteacher at the Mount, said: "The Mount School is excited at the prospect of working closely with all the other schools in York. Both children and teachers will gain much from working together on such an innovative project."

Brian Crosby, headteacher at Manor School, said: "We are delighted by this exciting iniative, which will bring together the best practice in both the state and independent sectors."