The headteacher of a Waltham Abbey school has resigned following a drop in GCSE results.

Headteacher Denice Halpin resigned from her post at King Harold School in Broomstick Hall Road, Waltham Abbey, last week.

She said: “I have made the decision to leave the school and pursue other opportunities.

"I firmly believe that King Harold students are the best I’ve ever worked with and I will miss them immensely.

"However, I feel it’s time for me to move on and explore other avenues of interest."

The resignation followed the percentage of pupils at the school achieving at least five A* to C grades at GCSE including maths and English dropping from 58 to 38 per cent, this year.

Executive headteacher Christian Cavanagh, who will step in as the school's temporary headteacher this week, said: “I can confirm that right now this year’s percentage is 38 per cent, however we are currently waiting for some exams to be remarked.

“It is not as good as the school had hoped and has dropped five per cent from what they were predicted.

“Hopefully next year the school will do better.”