The best and worst achieving schools in St Albans for English and maths GCSEs have been named.

Schools in Hertfordshire were ranked in the top 20 in the country for the percentage of pupils who at the end of Key Stage 4 finished with A*-C grades, but in St Albans alone, independent school St Columba’s College came out on top.

According to statistics published by the Department for Education, the average in England of pupils achieving five or more A* to C GCSEs, including English and maths, in last summer’s exams, was 53.8 per cent.

At Columba’s College, 89 per cent of pupils achieved five or more A* to C GCSEs, including English and maths.

In close second was St Albans Girls’ School with 87 per cent, followed by Sandringham School with 83 per cent, Beaumont School with 82 per cent and Loreto College with 81 per cent.

According to the Department for Education's data, St Albans School had two per cent of its pupils achieving five or more A* to C GCSEs, including English and maths and St Albans High School for Girls was zero per cent.

Both independent schools sit IGCSE’s, which are not included in the table.

Jenny Brand, headteacher of St Albans High School for Girls, said was thrilled with the school’s results this year.

She said: “We take great pride our results. The pupils and staff work incredibly hard and the relationships built in the classroom are second to none which account for our remarkable success.”

To find out more, visit http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/.