East End teenagers have reached a new educational high, achieving GCSE results that have smashed the national average for the first time ever.

In a feat described as “momentous”, Tower Hamlets pupils leapt more than 70 places in the national league table, making the borough the 38th highest achieving in England.

Just over 60 per cent of East End pupils received at least five A* to C grades including English and Maths, according to figures released by the Department for Education.

The national average was 58 per cent.

Some of the borough’s 15 secondary schools had good cause to celebrate when pupils were handed results in August because they were among the most improved in the country.

At Bethnal Green Technology College – which was on special measures just five years ago - almost 80 per cent of students landed five A* to C grades, including the two core subjects.

The once-struggling school was the third most improved in London and the 14th in England.

St Paul’s Way Trust School in Bow had transformed itself from a failing school to one deemed as providing “excellent prospects of continued improvement” by Ofsted last year.

This summer 60 per cent of its pupils achieved the five target grades, a 13 per cent leap from last year.

Mayor Lutfur Rahman said the educational milestone achieved by the borough’s schools was a “result of years of hard work”.

He added: “Over the past decade, the council has built an excellent working relationship with local schools, and together, we’ve really focused on improving attainment levels across the board.”

Girls in Tower Hamlets fares significantly better than their male peers, with 65 per cent achieving the five target grades compared to 56 per cent of boys.

A total of 80 per cent of pupils achieved five A* to C grades in any subject which was one percentage point above the national average.