Making the grade..but some schools results are worse than last year.’ Pic: Prepskills

There was joy and sorrow for thousands of pupils – and their parents – across the Eastlondonlines boroughs today as the results for GCSEs were published.

Most Tower Hamlets schools were on the up and Lewisham’s youngsters chalked up a bumper year with many pupils grabbing a hatful of A* and A grades. Hackney schools achieved outstanding results too – but  some Croydon grades were down on last year.

National results showed a rise in A* to C grades but there has been a sharp fall in standards of English. A significant minority of schools have not received their predicted results and many disadvantaged students have been “hit the hardest”.

At Lewisham’s  Prendergast Ladywell Fields College, the percentage of students achieving five A*– C grades including English and Maths rose by nine per cent from last year.

Over at Prendergast Hillyfields College half the GCSEs were graded B or above, while 67 per cent of pupils at Bonus Pastor Catholic College achieved five good grades – a rise of four per cent

Conisborough College also improved on last year’s results, with a large number of its students achieving top grades.

Andrew Ravendren, 16, joined Conisborough College in Year 8 and at the time spoke little English but gained 9A*s and has won a scholarship to continue his studies at Colfe’s.

Andrew said: ‘I’ve not been in the country very long and struggled in my first year at school. The teachers helped me a lot and I went to reading clubs and extra English classes and worked hard. Now I’ve got these results I am really happy.’

Head boy Tariq Chastanet-Hird gained 1A* and 7A grades. He said: “I didn’t expect to do this well. I’m really happy though and can’t wait to start my A levels in History, Politics and French.’

There were also many high achievers at Deptford Green School. Cherie Akpotor, 16, gained 10A* grades. She said: ‘I’m really happy with these results. Now I can look forward to my A levels.’

Bob Ellis, Executive Headteacher of Deptford Green School and Conisborough College said: ‘Students at Deptford Green should feel very proud of their efforts this year. They are a credit to the school and fully deserve their results. All the hard work put in by Conisborough College students in the lead up to the exams has paid off. They should be very proud of themselves.’

In Hackney, students at the The City Academy, Hackney, achieved a stunning set of results.  Out of the 180 students, 82 per cent obtained the benchmark five or more A* to C grades including English and maths – 20 per cent above the national average.

Meanwhile 91 per cent of pupils at the Homerton Row school achieved five or more A* to C grades in any subject, 30 per cent got five or more A* to As and 66 per cent obtained the rigorous English Baccalaureate –more than three times better than the national average.

It was not all good news – at Harris Academy South Norwood, the number of pupils achieving at least five A* to C Grades including English and maths – fell by 12 per cent to 64 per cent. At Harris Academy Crystal Palace results were six per cent worse than in 2013.

Mark Southworth Head teacher at Woodcote High, in Purley, said the school had got through a difficult period after posting overall results five per cent lower than last year. He said vulnerable pupils had suffered as a result of the exam changes.

Several schools in the Croydon area did show improvement including the Norbury Manor Business and Enterprise College, Archbishop Tenison’s and Oasis Academy Shirley Park.

In Bethnal Green two friends notched up 19 A* grades and seven As between them – despite sharing a love of football. High fliers Ikram Hussain and Kabirul Choudhury became close friends at Bethnal Green’s Morpeth Secondary and both now want to become doctors

Most Tower Hamlets secondary schools have improved, with around 80 per cent passes in A* to C top grades.