Three quarters of all GCSE students in the borough achieved the benchmark pass rate.

Islington Council says the number of pupils who gained five A* to C grades increased to 75 per cent which is up three per cent on last year.

A total of 19 per cent scored three or more A* to A grades.

Four from St Aloysius’ College in Hornsey Lane, Archway - Richardo Mendes, Yonathan Abraham-Haile, Corey Peterson, and Degol Tesfei - got 10 A* or A grades.

Other high achievers include Fatemah Alemi of Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, Risinghill Street, Islington, who counted three A*s and eight As. Simi Sule at Mount Carmel Roman Catholic Technology College for Girls in Duncombe Road, Archway, celebrated a staggering 12 A*s.

Mount Carmel teenager Yara Bravo-Teixeira, who came to the UK from Spain two years ago with no English, achieved 14 GCSEs and 2 AS levels all above grade C.

Gladys Berry, the headteacher of Highbury Fields in Highbury Hill which celebrated its best ever set of results, said: “I am especially proud of the way in which our students recognised that hard work and determination really does pay off.”

Highbury Fields pupil Wajiha Ahad, who earned two As, seven Bs and three Cs, said: “I am very happy. The exams were difficult and I wasn’t sure how I’d done.”

Classmate Sharmin Akhtar, who got three As, five Bs and two Cs, said: “It is a huge relief and means I can now do what I want for my A levels.”

Councillor Richard Watts, Islington Council’s executive member for children and families, said: “Congratulations to all our GCSE students.”

Islington’s Connexions service helps school leavers unsure about their next steps.

Visit www.islington.gov.uk/connexions or call them on 020 7527 7031.