Several “ecstatic” pupils were celebrating coming top of the class at Warren Comprehensive as they ripped open the envelopes containing their GCSE results last week.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Daniel Hill scooped one A*, seven As, a C and a DDaniel Hill scooped one A*, seven As, a C and a D (Image: Archant)

Olayemi Anifowofe-eso was so overwhelmed at seeing five A* grades and As in the rest of her subjects she admitted she hadn’t actually counted how many top grades she’d achieved.

“I’m Ecstatic!” she said. “The teachers were amazing and really put their hearts into supporting us. They gave up all of their lunchtimes to provide extra help - I practically lived in the science department!’

Daniel Hill, who scooped one A*, seven As, and a C a D, was also celebrating that he’d done well enough to study biology, chemistry, economics and law at sixth form.

The teenager hopes to be a criminal lawyer working for an international company one day, and said: “I had personal aspirations and encouragement from my family to do well. The extra revision classes provide by the school were a big help.”

The school, in Whalebone Lane North, Chadwell Heath, has seen a 14 per cent rise in the number of pupils achieving 5A*-C grades, including English and maths, compared to last year.