A school was reeling today after Government inspectors said its overall standard of education was unacceptable.

Ofsted inspectors levelled criticism at the management of Broadwater Church of England First and Middle School in Worthing.

They judged teaching to be unsatisfactory in too many lessons, although 88 per cent of lessons were deemed to be satisfactory or better.

The pace of the school's curriculum development and the quality of assessment were also found wanting.

But the standard of pupils' behaviour and the school's provision for its youngest children won praise.

The school's governing body has pledged to work with the local education authority to ensure rapid progress is made.

Headteacher Ann Macauley said: "We recognise the need for improvement in the light of the inspection and have already started to implement some changes.

"I'm encouraged by the fact that the inspector praised a number of our recent staff appointments."

The Reverend Dr Simon Coupland, chairman of the governors, said the Ofsted report was a blow, coming after the school recorded its best ever National Curriculum results.

Dr Coupland said: "Our results bear comparison with other local schools."

He quoted a letter received from Ofsted inspector David Milne who wrote: "Take heart from the fact that schools often improve rapidly through quality support."

National Curriculum results showed 98 per cent of seven and 11-year-olds reached Government targets in science, with 90 per cent hitting the target in English.

Only 84 per cent of 11-year-olds reached the required standard in maths, rising to 93 per cent of seven-year-olds.

The church school had a separate inspection, which commended the school's Christian ethos and found the children friendly and polite.