A COLCHESTER school has been placed at the top of England’s A-level league table.

Colchester Royal Grammar School, in Lexden Road, received the highest average points scored per pupil.

Ken Jenkinson, headteacher at the school, said: “I am naturally delighted that the school has come out top, nationally, in the post-16 performance tables.

“Academic achievement is important to us as a school, and we are pleased to be ranked among the very best schools in the country.

“As a school, we concentrate on the individual pupils and try to help them do the best they can.

“If we are successful in this, the cumulative outcome is a high attainment score for the school.

“Although the academic achievement of our pupils is our priority as a selective school, I tend to see the results as a by-product of the whole ethos of the school.

“The pupils are encouraged to aim high in whatever they do, to seize opportunities and rise to challenges with confidence.

“Be it sport, music, drama, debating or mathematics, we want the pupils to enjoy the experience, learn from their teachers, and aim to do their very best.

“I am grateful to the teachers and non-teaching staff at the school for creating such a positive and supportive environment in which the pupils can thrive.”

The league table for Essex shows Colchester County High School for Girls came fourth out of the 58 eligible schools in the county, beaten by King Edward VI Grammar School, in Chelmsford, and Chelmsford County High School for Girls.

Colchester Institute was ranked 50th, but that figure is skewed because the school runs just the one A-level course.

College spokeswoman Emma Fazakerley said: “The only A-level course we offer is music.

“We have about eight to 15 pupils who go on to do an A-level.

“That is why our figures rank us so low, because we offer a significantly lower number of pupils for A-levels than other establishments in the county.”

Colchester Sixth Form College took the 13th spot, Thurstable School, in Tiptree, came in at number 32, Philip Morant School and College, in Rembrandt Way, Colchester, was 38th, and Colne Community College, in Brightlingsea, was ranked 48.

Sue Cowans, headteacher of Philip Morant School, said she was pleased with the results of the large majority of pupils in Year 13, most of whom progressed to the university or career of their choice.

She said: “Their average point score was comparable with groups of pupils of similar ability in previous years, and reflects an ongoing successful track record for the comprehensive range of learners in our college.

“This was the last smaller year group to progress through Philip Morant, prior to the opening of a new purpose-designed building in September 2009, which attracted the largest ever number of pupils.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE IN DEPTH SCHOOL PERFORMANCE STATS