The number of secondary school pupils in Burnham gaining A* to C grades in their GCSEs has dropped since last year.

Less than half of pupils at Burnham’s Ormiston Rivers Academy - 48 per cent - achieved at least five A* to C GSCE passes, which was a decrease from last year’s 50 per cent.

It ranked 74 out of 87 schools in Essex, according to the proportion of pupils getting five or more A* to C grades at GCSE level, including English and Maths.

William de Ferrers secondary school in South Woodham Ferrers emerged top of the pile, with Plume School in Maldon, when it came to GCSE results and recorded an increase from 56 per cent to 58 per cent.

Plume School’s results stayed at 58 per cent - the same as last year.

Joan Costello, principal at Ormiston Rivers Academy, said the 48 per cent did not truly reflect the last set of GCSE results as it had not taken appeals into account.

See this week's MBS for the full story.