Only two state-funded secondary schools in Fenland have pupils that are performing above the national average at GCSE level, it was revealed yesterday.

The GCSE results tables revealed that as a county, Cambridgeshire’s pupils were performing above the average levels, with 58.8 per cent grabbing ‘gold standard’ results – five A* to C grades.

However, schools in Fenland fared less successfully, with only two achieving above-average scores, and only three improving on their scores from the previous year.

The national average figure for exams sat in the summer of 2015 was revealed as 57.1 per cent.

Sir Harry Smith Community College’s pupils bagged a score of 64 per cent – a four per cent improvement from the previous year.

Marshland High School saw an astronomical improvement in the amount of pupils achieving five A* to C grades.

The school, in West Walton, near Wisbech, scored 56 per cent – a 15 per cent improvement – but still fell below the national average.

Cromwell Community College in Chatteris also improved but fell short of the national average figure, with 54 per cent of pupils achieving the ‘gold standard’ – a three per cent increase.

Neale Wade Academy in March achieved exactly the same score as 2014; 52 per cent.

The region’s lowest scoring school was Thomas Clarkson Academy in Wisbech.

The school is in the nation’s bottom 10 per cent after only 27 per cent of its pupils secured five top grades – a figure low enough for the school to be labelled as ‘underperforming.’

Secondary schools are ‘underperforming’ if fewer than 40 per cent of pupils get five GCSEs at grade A* to C including English and maths, and if the school has a below average score for pupils’ progress.

Private institution Wisbech Grammar School suffered a seven per cent fall from 85 per cent to 78 per cent - its lowest in three years.

Schools across the country have been judged on the basis of GCSE results for the last time, as from next year they will be measured on a larger range of results, spanning across eight subjects.

For the comprehensive league table, please visit http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/group.pl?qtype=LA&no=873&superview=sec.