ABSTRACT
London Challenge was introduced during a period of successive Labour Governments, which saw extensive efforts to address growing social and educational inequality. Instigated in 2003 by the then Labour government led by Tony Blair, London Challenge set out to address what was seen as the problem of London schools, particularly in the secondary sector where there was increasing concern that parents were choosing private education. Commenting on the London Challenge strategy, M. Kidson and E. Norris argue that this presented ministers and officials with a number of 'knotty implementation challenges'. The overall aims of the Challenge were to raise the educational achievement of all children and young people, and to narrow the gap in educational achievement between learners from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Led by headteachers, the Families of Schools proved to be successful in strengthening collaborative processes within the city region. Crossing boundaries sometimes involved what seemed like unlikely partnerships.
