1. (noun) partnership school - a controversial way of delivering public education which brings together the education, business and community sectors to provide new opportunities for students to achieve education success. Partnership schools receive public funds on a per-pupil basis, like regular state schools, but have more independence in things like curriculum, operating hours, employment and leadership structure. Opponents see provision of education as the responsibility of government for the public good and not a commodity to be traded, with democratically elected Boards of Trustees who are accountable to the community. The involvement of third parties is seen to introduce unwelcome motives to the provision of education, often a profit motive. Fully qualified and registered teachers are seen to be essential. It is suggested that flexibility for alternative approaches has been possible under the existing legislation and that more could be made of this instead of introducing a new model for which the evidence of results is unclear.