Students across our borough are celebrating their A-level results today with provisional figures showing 97.9% achieved an A* to E grade – matching the performance of other youngsters nationwide.

The number of pupils receiving top grades A* to A increased at Dagenham Park School by 13% compared to last year, while Robert Clack School and Barking Abbey also recorded increases of 2.4% and 2.3%.

Nearly a third of pupils at Robert Clack School achieved the governments ‘gold standard’ of AAB or above.

‘As good as any other pupils in the country’

Deputy headteacher of Robert Clack School, Richard Spandl, said: “These young men and women have once again shown that pupils at Robert Clack, proudly a local authority school, are as good as any other pupils in the country.”

Eastbrook School recorded a 25.9% rise in A* to C pass rate, increasing from 51% last year to 76.9% this year, while Jo Richardson Community School improved by 6.3% over the same period – registering their best A* to C and A* to B results ever.

Eastbury Community School achieved a 99% A-level results pass rate, with almost half of all grades achieved at A-level being A* to B and one in six A* to A.

‘I am very proud of all the students’

“I am very proud of all the students and staff who have worked hard in this more challenging year for A-level exams,” said Eastbury Community School headteacher, David Dickson.

The overall performance of pupils achieving A* to B in Barking and Dagenham has increased by 2.1% over the last five years.

This year marks the first year of results for students since reforms to the A-levels format. Instead of taking exams throughout the course, pupils now sit all exams at the end of two years of study.

‘Hard work and effort has paid-off’

Councillor Evelyn Carpenter, Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement said: “This is another example of how our borough is full of talented young people with huge potential and it has been. a privilege to witness what this day means for them.

“Despite the challenges our students and teachers have faced, as a result of the A-level reforms, their hard work and effort has paid-off with many of our pupils gaining a place at their first-choice university.

“Working together with schools and parents, we will ensure our young people are well educated, have improved employment opportunities and reach their highest aspirations.”

Over 90% of schools in Barking and Dagenham have been given a ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ rating in Ofsted inspections and continue to make improvements.