Teachers and pupils at Colchester Royal Grammar School were jumping for joy after learning the school has been ranked first in the country for the academic performance of its 16 to 19-year-old pupils.

The school has now featured at the very top of the tables for A-levels and International Baccalaureates for the last eight years.

Headmaster Ken Jenkinson said: “This year’s outcome was the best the school could have hoped for, and that is all we ever strive to achieve. We never target a league table position because it is ultimately out of our control; we aim to help every individual student to achieve the best results they can hope for and the cumulative effect of the individual achievements should be a high placing for the school by national comparisons.

“If we come out first, we are delighted, but we are focused on our students and if they have fulfilled their potential”. According to Mr Jenkinson the high national placing is recognition of the efforts of his students and staff.

He added: “I know how hard the students and staff work and how well they work together to achieve the very best results they can and they can be very proud of their achievements.

“There is a real buzz in the sixth-form lessons and a strong sense of partnership between the students and their teachers.

Read about improving GCSE results in Essex here.