Inspectors have put a secondary school on "notice to improve" after a mixed report on its progress since it was taken out of special measures.

Ofsted said there had been improvements at Boundstone Community College, Lancing, but felt progress in some areas had been too slow.

It gave the school, which teaches 1,100 students, a year to raise its game in terms of attendance figures and GCSE results.

Inspectors, who carried out the inspection in September, concluded: "The college went through a turbulent period between 2002 and 2004 when staffing was unstable and morale was low.

"Seeds of change are evident in Years 8 and 9, with close to average standards and satisfactory progress. But with a steady decline in GCSE results since 2003, recovery in Years 10 and 11 has been slow to emerge.

"The students' rate of progress is at last picking up and GCSE results are likely to improve in 2006.

"Attendance continues to be well below average and only recently have better recording systems been set up."

The report said the college had significant strengths, such as standards of teaching in the performing and visual arts.

Behaviour was satisfactory and lessons calm. However, incidents of poor behaviour and bullying still spoilt some students' enjoyment of college life.

Teaching, leadership and management were satisfactory and the pace of change had moved into a higher gear in recent months.

Boundstone felt its effectiveness was now satisfactory, but inspectors judged that it was inadequate, although improving.

The college was therefore performing "significantly less well than could be expected."

Headteacher Richard Evea said the inspectors' judgements about recent exam results and attendance figures were spot on.

He said: "Most of it is down to the turmoil the school was in when it was placed in special measures in 2002.

"But since then we have vigorously got to grips with the quality of the teaching and were taken out of special measures in 2004."

In 2003 the standard of teaching in one third of lessons was unsatisfactory but now all lessons were satisfactory, most of them good, and many outstanding.

Mr Evea said exam results would improve but admitted he was surprised by the comments on bullying.

He said: "It isn't the school where old-fashioned bullying takes place but there is some violence outside the school at weekends in the community."

John Bowd, chairman of governors, said it was a little unfair for the inspectors to say Boundstone had not improved quickly enough.

He believed it had improved as quickly as could be reasonably expected.

Mr Bowd added: "We have every confidence in the head and staff, and Boundstone's ability to improve."