STUDENTS across Highams Park and Chingford are celebrating top marks in this year's GCSEs.

The pupils at Highams Park Voluntary Aided School in Handsworth Avenue, gained an 81 per cent pass rate of grades between A* and C, which is the highest ever and a 10 per cent increase from last year.

The best performing pupil was Ibrahim Boukabache who achieved 11 A*s grade and 2As.

Elle Tait, 16, of Underwood Road in Chingford, gained 10 A*s and 3 As and plans to stay on at the school's sixth form college.

She said: "I didn't think I had done badly but I never thought I would do this well. I am still in shock."

Another pupil, Owen Errington, 16, of Keynsham Avenue, achieved 10 A*s, 2 As and 1 B.

The Head-teacher, Anthony Perrett, said: "These results are fantastic.

“The pupils and teachers have worked very hard to achieve them.

At Rush Croft Sports College in Rushcroft Road, students achieved 80% in A to C grades, which is a 6 per cent increase from last year.

Linda Ruan, 16, gained 6 A*s, 3 As, 1B and a merit.

She said: "I am really happy. These are similar to the grades I was predicted but I didn't expect to get so many A*s."

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