Brighton College and East Brighton College of Media Arts are not much more than a mile away as the seagull flies.

But they are worlds apart in many other respects. One is a flourishing public school with a record of academic excellence.

The other is a state school which has been twice relaunched following problems.

Now students from both are benefiting under the unique Instep Project aimed at bringing them closer together.

It is also involving a second state school, Falmer High, which has seen a huge increase in standards during the last couple of years.

On a simple level, it has enabled youngsters from different backgrounds to see how similar they are when they share enjoyable activities such as sailing.

But it also may be able to help teachers from the schools share best practice and make improvements in the way they work.

While the two state schools might benefit most from this, Brighton College staff would be the first to acknowledge they can learn from the programme too.

There are encouraging signs that the media arts college, after a rocky start last year, is making real progress in the way that Falmer has.

Innovative links such as the Instep Project are helping with that improvement.

The research being undertaken as part of it should lead to further welcome progress.