Two neighbouring secondary schools in London’s East End have been named among the country’s elite for improving pupils’ learning.

Central Foundation Girls’ and nearby Bow School are included in the top 20 per cent for improving pupils’ achievement at GCSE.

Every school in the country has been ranked according to how much value they have added to the scores students were expected to achieve in last summer’s exam results, which is determined by the progress in the classroom between ages 11 and 16.

A average score is 1,000 points—but Central Foundation scored 1,029 while Bow Secondary reached 1,023.

Teachers went into extra time at the two Tower Hamlets secondaries to get pupils up to scratch.

Bow headteacher Cath Smith explained: “Staff provided a tailored intervention programme that included weekend and holiday revision sessions, as well as after-school classes and even a residential study weekend.

“Our focus was on the progress of each pupil, so we could target support accurately—and the students rose to the challenges we set them.”

Both secondaries have received letters this week from the Schools Network confirming their places among the country’s top 20 per cent.

The organisation’s chief executive Sue Williamson said: “The scores show how schools make a difference and raise achievement above expectations. These results are a testament to the hard work of students and teachers.”

The independent organisation campaigning to improve learning standards in the classroom was “impressed” with the hard work it found at Bow and Central Foundation.