A Hartlepool school is "looking forward" to facing the challenges set by an Ofsted report.

The inspection team that visited Brierton Sports College identified a need for improvements in attendance levels, key stage three results, curriculum planning, special educational needs provision and the way the school examines its own work.

However, the inspectors acknowledged that the school is giving pupils an acceptable standard of education and there was particular praise for the way the sports college is developing and the improvement in this year's GCSE results.

Stephanie Hayes, chairwoman of governors, said: "Although some parts of the Ofsted report make challenging reading for us all, we are looking forward to working with all our partners, including the local education authority (LEA) in creating a vigorous action plan.

"There is much to be proud of at Brierton and we need to celebrate the success of our pupils.

"This year we achieved record results in our GCSEs, including an all-time best of 35 per cent of pupils with more than five or more A* to C grades."

Adrienne Simcock, acting director of education with Hartlepool LEA said: "We are obviously disappointed at the outcome of the inspection but we have already begun to put in place measures that we think will help the school to move forward.

"We will work with the school to draw up an action plan and we will appoint additional governors to support the school as it enters this new phase of development."