Barking and Dagenham pupils saw a significant improvement in their GCSE grades in the last four years, figures show today.

A total of 58.6 per cent received five or more A* to Cs including English and maths last year compared to 57.2 per cent in 2011 and just 45.1 per cent in 2009, Department for Education statistics reveal.

However, the performance of pupils still remained below the national average for last year, which was 59.4 per cent obtaining the benchmark grades.

The borough was also below the national average for A-levels last year, as the average point score per student stood at 656 in Barking and Dagenham compared to 733 nationally.

The results showed successes for individual schools in the borough, with two among the most improved in the country for GCSEs - Eastbury Comprehensive in Barking and Jo Richardson Secondary in Dagenham.

GCSE pupils at Eastbury, in Hulse Avenue, saw their scores jump by 28 percentage points in three years, from 38 per cent reaching the government’s benchmark in 2009 to 66 per cent getting it in 2012.

Headteacher David Dickson said: “We are delighted to be for the second year running on the most improved list.

“This is testament to the hard work of the students and the professionalism and dedication of all the staff at the school and our very supportive families, governing body and local education authority.”

Meanwhile, pupils at Jo Richardson in Gale Street witnessed a 23 percentage point improvement from 35 per cent to 58 per cent achieving the grades.

The revised Department for Education league tables were released this morning.