STAFF at St John's School, Epping, are disputing a number of GCSE grades after seeing an eight per cent drop in its pass rate over the last year.

Only 41 per cent of students achieved five or more A* to C grades. However headteacher Keith Sharp remains upbeat and was still delighted with the results achieved.

He said: "There were some tremendous individual successes and the year group performed as well as we expected."

Among the high achievers were Kimberley Westley who achieved nine A grades.

Also top of the class were Charlotte Hazelton (eight As), Lauren Pitts (one A* and seven As), Callum Halstead (one A* and five As), Stevie Camp (two A*s and four As), Tabssum Khan (four A*s and three As) and Charlotte Baily (three A*s and three As).

Mr Sharp added: "A great deal of thanks should go to the staff who worked so hard with these youngsters and also to their parents for their continued support.

"Following the excellent recent Ofsted report these results represent a very good ending to another successful year at St John's School."