The proposal to build four new primary schools and extend two others in Bradford carries with it some good news.

It is good that Bradford, unlike most other cities, has a rising population, and it is good that a number of people from Eastern European countries want to make the city a place to live and work.

These "official" immigrants bring with them skills that are needed in Bradford as elsewhere in the country and they are people who, by and large, are committed to being part of the community and paying their way.

It is only right that the children of our new citizens should be given every help to learn our language, pursue their education and become active citizens themselves. The fact that to help that happen many other young children will benefit from better facilities and a better learning environment must be a bonus.

It is disappointing, however, that it takes an influx of new people into the community to bring about such a dramatic improvement in the quality of our schools and school buildings. There are many schools in Bradford, like troubled Usher Street for instance, with substandard or decaying outdated buildings which are undoubtedly a contributory factor in holding back the district's progress in improving its primary-school results and therefore its position in the league tables.

Bradford's education still needs far greater investment. Let's hope this review of provision can extend to a review of the quality of the learning environment available to other children in the city.