Highbury Fields School students “from all backgrounds and starting points” have made huge strides in their GCSE exams.

89per cent of students gained grade 4 or above in English and 80pc a grade 4 or above in maths, significantly above national averages.

Despite the challenges, 35pc of all grades for the new courses were at grade 7 or above which means that 35pc of Highbury Fields GCSE grades were the equivalent of grade A, or above, under the old grading system..

Under the new grading structure a level 9 has been created to recognise the very highest performing students. At Highbury Fields School 7pc of all grades awarded to students, in these new and much harder examinations, were grade 9.

38pc of English grades and 26pc of maths grades were at grade 7 or above. In other, rigorous subjects, many students also achieved at the higher grade range. 90pc of biology and chemistry grades were at 7 or above and 87pc of physics grades at 7 or above. There were also excellent results in art, music, history, geography and Spanish.

A school spokesman said: “In 2018 students from all backgrounds and starting points have made great progress and are warmly congratulated.

“The Highbury Fields School community is extremely proud of the achievements of their GCSE and A-level students. Despite the heightened pressures they faced the students coped especially well and demonstrated great strength of character and resilience.”