Robert Clack headteacher Russell Taylor has said he is “absolutely thrilled” with the school’s A-level results.

Three pupils at the Dagenham school achieved straight A* grades, with nearly 30 per cent of all results at either A or A*.

The school also saw a 75pc A* to C pass rate with 26pc of pupils achieving the gold standard of AAB or above.

Mr Taylor said: "I'm absolutely thrilled with the results.

"They represent the culmination of a mammoth effort on the part of students and staff at this school."

The school also saw three pupils secure places at Oxford, including Dylan Affum, who will be studying engineering at New College. The college's alumni include actor Hugh Grant and former US national security advisor Susan Rice.

On finding out he achieved A*s in physics and maths and A in chemistry, he said: "I felt delighted. It was a [big load] off my shoulders.

"My parents were very, very happy, my mum started to scream a bit."

Xhesika Leka, 18, is also headed to Oxford, but to study law.

Thinking about becoming a barrister, she was inspired to apply for law after work experience at one of the prestigious 'magic five' law firms, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

"It was really engaging and exciting."

"I was interested in the fact that law governs the world. I was interested in having an impact on society."

Xhesika's parents were understandably excited.

"To say my dad was emotional would be an understatement. They were very happy for me because they know this was a dream of mine.

"The school was relentlessly supporting me.

"They just made my journey easier."

But not all the students who saw success on the day are going straight to university.

Ben Morgan, who is 18, is heading to a technology apprenticeship at the financial giant Goldman Sachs.

The four-year course will see him work there three days a week and then study software engineering for the remaining two at Queen Mary University.

"I chose the apprenticeship because I didn't feel like university was for me," he said. "I didn't want to study anymore, I wanted to do things.

More than 100 pupils will be heading to university in September while others will be taking up apprenticeships at international firms. One pupils has secured a sporting scholarship to study in the USA.