Students at Jo Richardson School celebrating after receiving their GCSE results

A headteacher has said he is delighted with the progress of his students after a record number received five good GCSE grades.

Ges Smith, head at Jo Richardson school in Gale Street, Castle Green, Dagenham, saw 56 per cent of his students obtain the benchmark of five A* to C grades including English and maths on Thursday.

It marks a 21 per cent rise in the numbers obtaining good GCSEs over the past three years.

Mr Smith said: “I’m really pleased with the progress and I’m especially pleased that year on year we are pushing further and further.

“It’s a really challenging time at the moment with the changes in grade boundaries and our students deserve the success they have received. I’m delighted for the borough as well, especially for the schools in the southern parts of the borough.”

The head has seen a steady increase in results over recent years, with 53 per cent last year achieving the target grades that will ensure they are able to take A-levels.

Mr Smith said the school is now hoping to take in a record number of sixth formers in September - more than 100.

If it achieves the target, the total sixth form number would rise to around 170.

He added: “We are attracting more and more students from Havering, Tower Hamlets and Newham as well as Barking and Dagenham.”