Schools which are failing children in Sussex have been named and shamed.

Ofsted, the school's watchdog, has published data on schools currently causing concern.

It reveals 15 which inspectors say are not good enough - nearly half of which are in the most serious category.

The information also shows schools which have improved and been taken off the black list.

In Sussex, seven are in special measures, six have been given notices to improve and two are identified as having serious weaknesses.

The number of failing schools has increased since last year when there were 11.

White House Primary School in Hailsham is one of those which received a damning Ofsted report.

It was placed in special measures in November after a Government team considered it inadequate.

Inspectors said pupils were underachieving, some were not being adequately challenged and the school's leadership team had failed to identify weaknesses.

They returned last month to carry out the first monitoring visit.

Ofsted's Sheila Browning said the school's progress since being placed in special measures was "inadequate".

She said: "School leaders and governors have an accurate view of the school's strengths and weaknesses.

"Measures introduced have begun to address identified weaknesses, but have not yet brought about sufficient improvement in standards."

Headteacher Heather Baldwin said: "The first monitoring visit has taken place in no time at all after the initial inspection.

"They had to find that we were making inadequate progress because there has not been enough time to turn everything around yet.

"They were supportive and extremely positive about the changes we've already made but we still have a long way to go."

Colgate Primary School in Horsham has improved and is no longer considered to have serious weaknesses.

Ofsted inspectors visited in February and graded it "satisfactory".

They said: "This school has come a long way since its last inspection.

"Good leadership and management have resulted in rapid improvement.

"The catalogue of weaknesses that were previously identified has been tackled successfully so that this is now a satisfactory and improving school."

Praise was given to headteacher Katherine Scott for her leadership and pupils were making steady progress.

Miss Scott said: "No one wants to be in the position we were in and it's a big relief to be able to put the new report on our website.

"We've had lots of really good feedback from parents and they've always been very supportive.

"We have a totally new teaching staff, apart from the deputy head, and that's meant a new team leading us forward."

Last spring term, three Sussex schools were subject to special measures, two were under notice to improve and six had serious weaknesses.

Two were taken off special measures and three removed from underachieving status.

Ofsted results at March 31, 2007

  • Schools in special measures:

  • Marshlands Primary School, Hailsham
    White House Primary School, Hailsham
    Area A Pupil Referral Unit South, Chichester
    Cornfield School (special needs), Littlehampton
    Flora McDonald Junior School, Littlehampton
    Midhurst Grammar School, Midhurst
    St Catherine's Catholic Primary School, Littlehampton
  • Schools given notice to improve:

  • Patcham High School, Brighton
    St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School, Brighton
    Whitehawk Primary School, Brighton
    Beckley Church of England Primary School near Rye
    Southdown Junior School, Newhaven
    Connaught Junior School, Littlehampton
  • Schools with serious weaknesses:

  • East Hoathly Church of England Primary School, Lewes
    St Lawrence Church of England Primary School, Hassocks
  • Schools removed from notice to improve category:

  • Thomas Peacocke Community College, Rye
    Chichester High School for Boys, Chichester
  • Schools removed from serious weaknesses:

  • Colgate Primary School, Horsham
    Greenway School, Horsham
    St Nicolas and St Mary Church of England First and Middle School, Shoreham