Honywood Community Science School in Coggeshall had 64.3 per cent of pupils gain five or more A* to C grades including English and maths.

Headteacher Simon Mason said this was the sixth best set of results the school has ever achieved.

72 per cent gained A* to C in both English and maths and a record 88% gained A* to C in English.

One pupil matched the school’s best ever results, gaining 11 A* passes.

Mr Mason said: “Not only have our young people performed well in their GCSE exams, they have also developed a broad set of skills, attitudes and dispositions to learning and to life-long success.

“We are very proud of the young adults they have become and are confident that they will make excellent future employees, parents, citizens and in many cases community and business leaders, playing an active part in their community as they did during their five years at our school.”