A mixed boys and girls school in Tower Hamlets achieved its best ever results despite GCSE grades falling nationally for the first time.

With 65 per cent of its students scoring five A* to C grades in all subjects, including English and Math, Morpeth School saw a seven per cent improvement on last year.

Excluding English and Maths more than 70 per cent of students at the school at Portman Place in Bethnal Green gained the same grades.

Head teacher, Alasdair Macdonald, said: “We are very pleased with our results. This year we had a group of students, who came from various primary schools with lower grades than in previous years, and despite this we have achieved our best ever results.

“It also comes at a time when GCSE grades are being reported to have fallen nationally for the first time, so it’s very impressive and goes against the trend.”

Mr MacDonald believes the marking of exam papers was stricter this time than in previous years.

“I think pupils are working harder but because of claims that exams have become easier I believe there was political pressure to mark stricter this time.”

The school’s top student was year-11 student Sarah Fox, who achieved 11A* and one A. Mr MacDonald said her results were “exceptional.”