A County Durham school that has been ranked as the area's top priority for rebuilding has been issued with a "notice to improve" following an inspection by education watchdog Ofsted.

Inspectors found that Seaham School of Technology requires "significant improvement in relation to pupils' standards and progress, attendance and teaching".

They found a new leadership team had set appropriate priorities for improvement, as well as introducing rigorous systems for monitoring staff performance and for measuring pupils' progress, but said the school at present "does not provide an adequate education for all its pupils".

But the findings recognise that the school is in an area of extreme social deprivation.

There has been long-standing concern over the poor condition of the school's premises - only a month ago pupils were sent home over fears that unstable windows were posing a threat of injury.

The condition of the school's buildings prompted the county council to rank it as top of its priority list for replacement plans.

It is expected that the council's cabinet will today endorse a £16m rebuilding plan for the school under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) proposals.

Last night, Councillor Neil Foster, cabinet member for education, confirmed that Seaham school ranked as top priority for replacement under the BSF proposals.

Notices to improve have also been issued to Princess Road Junior School, Seaham, and Sherburn Village Primary, near Durham City.

Coun Foster pointed out that there had not been a failing school in the county for the past five years, adding: "I am amazed that with the number of schools we have, that we don't sometimes have more problems."

He also pointed out that the Government was identifying problems in schools far more quickly and the council was responding.