A Worthing school judged to have serious faults four years ago is improving but must still do better.

Government education officials made the assessment after inspecting Durrington Middle School in Salvington Road.

They concluded the school, which has 508 pupils, provided a satisfactory education for its children but still had a number of significant weaknesses.

By Year 6, pupils attained standards in English and mathematics well below those expected for their ages and below those achieved by similar schools.

But pupils' achievements in science were good, while music was an outstanding strength of the school.

The Ofsted report revealed 160 pupils had been identified as having special educational needs for a variety of learning and behavioural difficulties.

Teaching was very good, sometimes excellent, in 16 per cent of the lessons observed, good or better in 52 per cent, and at least satisfactory in 88 per cent.

The inspectors said: "When it was inspected last in June 1997, the school was judged to have serious weaknesses in a number of aspects of its work.

"Since then, it has made satisfactory progress in addressing many of the action points and in tackling some of the causes of pupils' underachievement.

"In view of the progress already made, and the plans for future improvement set out by the leadership and management of the school, the inspection team judges there is a sound capacity to raise standards further."

Ged Harbinson, chairman of the school's governors, said: "We should all have great pride in the achievements.

"Head teacher Bob Pavard is pleased the inspectors recognised the strengths of the school as well as identifying where further improvements can be made."

The school is preparing a plan describing the action that will be taken to ensure the inspectors' findings are addressed.