Schools across Waltham Forest have performed better than ever before with provisional GCSE results showing an increase on last year's overall grades. 

Borough-wide results reveal an increase in the percentage of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades from 66 per cent in 2014 to 69 per cent. 

The same result, but including English and maths, also rose from 57 per cent to 59 per cent. 

Waltham Forest council has said the overall results could still change slightly as three secondary schools are yet to submit their results. 

"Judging by the results we have received so far, our schools have done an absolutely fantastic job raising the bar once again," said cllr Mark Rusling, responsible for children and young people. 

"Well done to all of the students who have reaped the rewards of their dedication during their time at school. 

"And congratulations to the excellent teaching staff, whose passion for education has helped produce what’s looking like the most successful GCSE year we have had."

There were calls for celebration at each of the borough's 17 secondary schools with some outstanding results by individual pupils. 

At Highams Park School in Handsworth Avenue, 100 per cent of pupils taking biology, chemistry and physics gained A* to C grade. 

Nearby at Frederick Bremer in Fulbourne Road, Walthamstow, headteacher Jenny Smith said the increase in progress and attainment was a "testament" to pupils’ perseverance. 

Pupils at Walthamstow Academy are eyeing up medicine careers after the Billet Road school produced its best-ever results, with 69 per cent of pupils achieving five A* to C grades, including English and maths. 

At Buxton School in Leytonstone, pupils overcame language barriers, long distance travel and full-time carer duties to score A* and B grades in core subjects.   

It was all smiles at Norlington Boys School in Leyton, particularly for pupils as they produced "record-breaking" GCSE results. 

Headteacher John Hernandez said he was confident the Norlington Road school will remain in the top 5 schools nationally for boys as a result of the success.  

Over at Heathcote School and Science College in Normanton Park, Chingford, headteacher Zoe Cozens reported a huge leap in the percentage of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades, including English and maths, from 47 per cent to 60 per cent.

Leyton’s George Mitchell School also saw a jump in this category – with the percentage rising from 48 per cent to 56 per cent, and elsewhere at Walthamstow School for Girls, a whopping 73 per cent of students achieving tops grades in five subjects, including English and maths.