The challenge is how to provide enough autonomy for schools to improve standards while also providing full accountability.
He also signalled an acceptance of Gove's academy programme by claiming that autonomy for schools was the right way to go.
He also argued that the government was right to seek greater autonomy for schools, but dismissed the education white paper as "incredibly timid".
Michael Gove, the Conservative education secretary, pinpoints the lessons of PISA 2009 as "greater autonomy for schools; sharper accountability; raising the prestige of the profession and having greater control over discipline".
However, he added: "The combination of increased autonomy for schools and weak governance is failing to provide the appropriate regulation and scrutiny to ensure that headteachers' salaries are determined in an open, fair, and transparent manner.
Cabinet ministers have been encouraged to meet sceptics, discover what it is precisely they object to in the forthcoming legislation and to see if they can find common ground.For example, MPs are worried that greater autonomy for schools will mean more backdoor selection and a worse deal for pupils from poor backgrounds.
But what Mr Cameron actually said is that real autonomy for schools should include allowing them a greater say in determining their admissions policy.If selection were not such a taboo for the Labour Party, the differences between Mr Blair and Mr Cameron would be a good deal slighter than between him and Lady Morris.
In a forward to the document, David Cameron and Nick Clegg write: The most successful countries already combine a high status teaching profession, high levels of autonomy for schools, a comprehensive and effective accountability system and a strong sense of aspiration for all children, whatever their background.
Sir David also calls for more local autonomy for schools rather than "top-down tinkering and intervention" from ministers and civil servants.
