SCHOOLS, everyone agrees, belong in the heart of their communities.

In Worcester, we have only to cast our minds back to the furore caused by the idea of closing Elbury Mount Primary in Brickfields to recognise the importance of keeping a school in the middle of the community it serves.

When that debate raged, it became crystal clear that it was worth investing time, effort and money to achieve that aim.

Of course, schools have to offer - first and foremost - a proper education to pupils, and on that score, Elbury Mount has made some progress.

As we reported in February, Elbury Mount's latest Ofsted report revealed it had more strengths than weaknesses and judged the school's capacity for improvement to be "satisfactory".

Now comes news that it is being hailed as an example of an "extended school", one that focuses on education for children, parents and the wider community.

According to Baroness Cathy Ashton, a Government Minister, by 2006 at least one school in every local education authority will provide a range of services for the community.

And if Elbury Mount can be an held up as an example of what can be achieved, it will be proof that - with hard work, inspiration and major investment - every cloud can have a silver lining.