As a result, the business of running a school, and promoting all the services it has to offer, has become far more complicated.

In Leeds, eight schools have now joined forces to forge a collaboration covering a large chunk of the city. They are: Allerton CoE Primary; Allerton High; Brodetsky Primary and Highfield Primary in Moortown; Cardinal Heenan Catholic High and St Urban's Catholic Primary in Meanwood and Alwoodley Primary and St Paul's Catholic Primary in Alwoodley.

Between them and their partners, they will offer dozens of community services. To promote their new venture, a Massive Community Event will take place straight after school on Wednesday, September 17, between 3.30 and 7pm. Staged at Allerton CoE Primary and the new Alwoodley Children's Centre on Lingfield Approach, the idea of the event is to promote the ever-increasing facilities and services available to families in the area.

"There are many different things going on in the schools, but they have never been united before," said Jane Langley, headteacher of Alwoodley Primary.

"The whole point of the Massive Community Event is to let everyone in the schools' areas know what is available. Schools are no longer just about children learning in classrooms, they can be the hub for a massive range of services.

"We are inviting everyone in the area to come along and find out what services are on offer.

"There will be loads of activities for the children as well, so it will be a great event for all the family.

"It will be like a school fair, but with the focus on fun, not fundraising. There will be lots of stalls, Breeze inflatables, a Techno Bus, face painting, music performances and sports."

The eight schools, along with the Moor Allerton Partnership – a Leeds City Council neighbourhood group – have chosen to work together on the event.

The idea is to help inform those taking part about the Government's Extended Services Core Offer – a new directive in which all children should have access to a range of extended services in and around their school.

The north Leeds group has representation from all eight schools – typically the head or deputy headteacher – plus four governors representing the Catholic schools, the Church of England school, the community schools and the Jewish school.

They is also representation from Leeds City Council's early years service, social care, the voluntary sector, youth service and extended services.

"The children who attend the eight schools come from very diverse backgrounds," said Miss Langley.

"The challenge in the past has been bringing together all the different services that our diverse communities use.

"By working together in this way, we will be able to strengthen links between the schools, improve on the provision we already offer and hopefully establish even more services."

For further details about the Massive Community event visit www.alwoodleyextendedservices.com.