A government minister has praised a Halesowen school for its sterling effort in providing out-of-hours classes for the whole community which have seen standards rise.

Children's Minister Beverley Hughes said Caslon Primary School had helped children achieve better results by involving parents and the community in learning.

The Beeches View Avenue school was awarded extended status in 2004 - which means it can open from 8am to 6pm to provide various extra classes, including those in literacy and numeracy for adults, a breakfast club, nursery day care, and a craft club.

The school has worked with organisations including colleges and voluntary groups to lay on vocational training and is working on plans for a new children's centre for the Cradley area.

Mrs Hughes said: "I want to personally thank the staff and pupils at Caslon Primary for all their hard work in making their extended school such a success."

She was commenting after a report showed progress in extended schools was double the national average from 2005 to 2006.

Head Jim Randle said parents of half the school's pupils were involved in adult and family learning activities.

He added parents taking classes had helped inspire chidren to learn.

"Adult education and family learning lie at the heart of our strategy to raise standards at Caslon and give pupils the best possible of life chances," said Mr Randle.

"I am very proud of our many parents, children and community members who have engaged in the wide variety of adult, child and family learning opportunities provided through our school."

The school's learning link worker, Linda Poultney, said parents had gained 32 qualifications since January, which they received in an awards ceremony on Tuesday June 26.

Caslon Primary serves an area where levels of adult education are in the lowest ten per cent nationally.