Waltham Forest ssecondary schools have all exceeded the government’s target for GCSE results. 

League tables published today show the majority of pupils across the borough's 18 schools achieved five or more GCSEs between A* and  C, including maths and English. 

None of the schools fell below the 40 per cent target, but seven state-run schools did perform worse overall than in 2013.

However, the borough overall achieved its highest ever national ranking, jumping 39 places to 81st.  

The best-performing public school was Walthamstow School for Girls in Church Hill.

A total of 75% of pupils achieved the benchmark, with 92 per cent of pupils making adequate progress in English and 80 per cent in maths. 

Independent Muslim school, The Lantern of Knowledge Secondary School, in Lindley Road, Leyton, performed the best overall with 100 per cent of its pupils achieving top grades.

Less than half of all pupils at Leyton's George Mitchell in Vicarage Road, and Lammas School in Seymour Road achieved the benchmark.

Heathcote Secondary School in Normanton Park, Chingford, saw the biggest percentage decline overall from 61 per cent 2013 to 47 per cent last year - the lowest in four years.  

Academics across the country have today criticised government changes to exams and assessment criteria, after figures shows the number of underperforming schools across England has more than doubled since last year.

A total of 330 failed to reach the government target last year, compared to 154 in 2013

The changes include only counting a pupil's first attempt at an exam and a cap on the number of vocational subjects counting towards the five A* to C assessment. 

The Government says the measures are intended to end the practice of schools repeatedly entering pupils for exams, while excluding vocational qualifications deemed not respected by employers or universities .

General secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, Brian Lightman, said: "Performance tables should always be used with caution. 

"They help parents to ask informed questions but they don’t give the full picture.

"They highlight qualifications and aspects that the Government considers important, but which may not be relevant in a school’s context."

The council's cabinet member for children cllr Mark Rusling, said: "Today’s results are fantastic news for Waltham Forest, as the proportion of children achieving five A* to C GCSEs, including English and maths, is now above the national average for the first time.

"This progress is especially impressive given that changes to the government’s performance tables have led to a drop in standards nationally – a trend clearly bucked here.

"Congratulations must go to the borough’s hard-working students, parents and teachers for their fantastic efforts."