one key way in which teachers and others working in schools were engaged in the zone was through the patterns of collaborative working that emerged,and which appeared to be the key factor in determining the eaz's impact. time and time again, interviewees identified increased collaboration as the primary benefit of the zone, and the key issue that had driven improvement initiatives. to appreciate why this was valued so much it is important to reflect on the local market conditions that had emerged within the zone following the 1988 act reforms, the result of which was to fracture secondary schooling into a highly competitive market. differences compounded by inequitable funding regimes and hugely complex admissions procedures had resulted in a system that some described as comprehensive in name only.