The outstanding GCSE results achieved by Ipswich schools this year are a promising step in the right direction, the town’s MP has said.

Months of waiting came to an elated end today as hundreds of students gained grades that trumped their predecessors’.

“I think this is an encouragement to continue the hard work but we are by no means there yet,” said Ipswich MP Ben Gummer.

“We should endeavour to do much better, and there is still a lot of work to do to make sure the schools in Ipswich are producing the best results in the country.”

Incredible progress was made by pupils at Ipswich Academy, which was placed in special measures by Ofsted last January.

Out of 153 students who sat GCSE exams, 39.2% achieved the benchmark grades of five A*-Cs in subjects including English and mathematics, compared to last year’s figure of 24.4%.

Amanda Phillips, principal of Ipswich Academy and chief executive of the Paradigm Trust which owns the school, said: “I am delighted by the massive steps that we have achieved since September of last year, and results show that our efforts are paying off.”

Simon Letman, headteacher of Holbrook Academy, was over the moon as the school matched last year’s performance, which was the best it had seen for 15 years.

Out of 91 students who took their GCSEs at Holbrook, 69% gained a C grade or above in five subjects including English and maths.

At Northgate High School, 66% of 217 students who sat their GCSEs achieved the benchmark grades in English and maths.

David Hutton, headteacher, said: “Northgate’s Year 11 have once again produced excellent examination results, making even greater progress than their predecessors last year.”

Students at Chantry Academy made, on average, half a grade more progress in each subject than last year’s cohort, with 37% securing at least five A*-Cs, including in English and maths.

Principal Craig D’Cunha said he was “delighted” with the results and praised both the school’s staff and students for the progress.

At Stoke High School – Ormiston Academy 40% of students gained A*-C grades in English and maths.

Retiring principal Janet Dickson said: “We are very proud of all of our students’ achievements and I would like to acknowledge not only their hard work and dedication, but that of the staff, and the support of parents.”

At Kesgrave High School 65% of the 282 students gained the benchmark grades, which was slightly down on last year when the school posted its best ever results with a 16% increase on the year before.

Results also fell at St Joseph’s College where 63% of the 51 pupils who sat exams achieved five A*-C grades including English and maths. Last year it was 76% and the year before it was 78%.

Principal Danielle Clarke said she was pleased with a number of the college’s headline figures, including 22% of all GCSE entries being graded at A*-A and 100% A*-C in the separate sciences.

“It is worth noting that schools with small year groups which also include a number of international students, will naturally experience fluctuations in annual results,” she added.

Ipswich School had an excellent set of results, with 100% of its 95 pupils who sat GCSEs gaining five or more A*-C grades including English and maths – the third year in a row it has produced top marks.

Headmaster Nicholas Weaver said: “I am very proud of them for their hard work and determination which has paid off and gives them a first class grounding for further study.”

Colin Walker, principal of St Albans Catholic High School, said exam time brought together the culmination of years of hard work. The school had 160 pupils sit GCSE exams this year, with 66% achieving the benchmark grades.

There was a slight dip in results at Royal Hospital School in Holbrook, with 84% of GCSE pupils achieving five or more A*-C grades, including English and maths, compared to 90% last year. However last year’s results were a big increase on the year before.

Headmaster Simon Lockyer said there had been some outstanding individual performances with 32 pupils achieving more than six A* or A grades, and three sets of twins claiming 43 A* and A grades between them.

At Westbourne Academy 54% of students gained A*-C grades in English and maths, a significant increase on last year.

Principal Garry Trott said: “I am very proud of our students and I am grateful to staff at the academy who have worked hard to secure these improvements.”

Out of 296 students who sat their GCSEs at Copleston High School, 65% achieved an A*-C in English and maths. Congratulations were shared by principal Shaun Common, who said he was delighted with the progress students had made.

At Ormiston Endeavour Academy 55% of students achieved A*-C in English and maths – up 16 percentage points on last year.

Principal Christine Woods said this was testament to the ongoing improvements bosses were seeing at the school.

It was another impressive performance for Ipswich High School for Girls with 98.4% of 56 students achieving five or more A*-C grades, including English and maths.

Headteacher Oona Carlin said: “Our academic results are an important measure of our success and confirm that the ‘girls only’ environment can certainly allow students to fulfil their potential and flourish.”