Teenagers were punching the air and whooping with delight outside The Urswick School in Paragon Road this morning.

Pupils have reason to celebrate – 57 per cent got five or more GCSEs at grades A to C including English and Maths. This is an eight cent increase since last year.

Headteacher Richard Brown said: “They are the best results in our history and the first year we have got over 50 per cent.

“Equally it’s a celebration that it’s five continuous years of improved results. We are a school that Hackney can be proud of and meets the needs of local people.

“What’s changed at the school is real sense of aspiration. Our mission statement is ‘Believe and achieve’.”

The school – which is located opposite council flats in a historically deprived part of Hackney – has focused on raising aspirations of its pupils. This sense of achievement can be seen in all the pupils regardless of grade.

Raphael Bailey, 16, of Digby Road, Homerton is proud of his results. The delighted teenager got 11 GCSEs. This includes 6 Cs, 2Ds and 2 Es.

“I was surprised”, he said. “I did not think I would get so many grades at this standard. I’m quite happy.”

He has a place at Hackney Community College to do plumbing and admits he is “excited” about the future.

Head girl Aishat Animashaun, of Longford Court, Clapton was “quite happy” with her results. The 16-year-old got 1 A*, 4As, 3Bs and 1 C. She plans to go to sixth form college in Walthamstow to study Chemistry, Biology, English Literature and Physics and wants to go into science.

Meanwhile Yen Nguyen, of Northwold Road, Clapton admitted she felt “mixed emotions” about her grades. She achieved 3A*, 3As and 4 Bs. “I feel I could have done better”, she said. “It was a stressful year. There were some family problems and so there was room for improvement. The teachers here really supported me.”

The 16-year-old wants to study chemistry, geography, art and English literature A-levels and is thinking of going in to teaching.

Niya Clement-Hickson, 16, will follow in Royal footsteps when he takes up a scholarship at Gordonstoun School in Scotland – the alma mater of Prince Charles. The teenager, from Alconbury Road in Clapton, achieved five A*, four As and 1 B in his GCSEs. He said: “I feel amazed about my results. When I was walking to school I was getting the shakes. Friends had to egg me on to get my results. ”

He will go on to study physics, geography, English language and English literature A-levels at the independent school with which The Urswick School has a long-standing partnership.

He added: I have wanted to study at Gordonston since I heard my teacher give a presentation about it years ago. It’s exciting, but sometimes I think my family are more excited than me!”

High-flying Joe Kimber, 16, of Well Street was modest about his achievements. He obtained 5 A*s, 2 As and 1 B. “I did alright. I’m quite glad I got these grades. I’m more interested in what other people got. I don’t want to make a big thing about mine.” The teenager plans to study chemistry, biology, physics and English at A-level before eventually pursuing a career in science.

Mr Brown credits a huge part of the success of pupils to his staff. “My staff work hard”, he said. “They even ran revision classes after-hours. Despite some national criticism of teachers, they work really hard to help students.”