Students and staff at Eastbrook School in Dagenham overcame a traumatic period to achieve record results in GCSE.

A total of 47 per cent of pupils recorded five or more A*-C grades including maths and English.

Headteacher Valerie Dennis paid tribute to the teenagers who sat the exams shortly after pupil Thomas Stone tragically died in a road crash.

Mrs Dennis said: “For the fourth year running the results have risen and consistently improved.

“It was a strong year group and they and the staff have worked really well together.

“It has been an emotional year because of the death of a popular student. The funeral was held on the same day at the maths GCSE exam.

“It was a great relief and joy to see the smiles on the faces of the students who worked their socks off.”