ST Nicholas’ School in Church Crookham has ranked as the best secondary school for GCSE results in the South East.

The Telegraph published the Department for Educations top schools in the country for GCSE results or equivalent qualifications last month, with the Hampshire school coming out on top in the region with an outstanding 97 per cent of pupils passing their GCSEs with a A* - C grade including English and maths.

The results are based on the exams taken by students in the summer of 2016, with 121 schools ranked in the south east.

St Nicholas’ 97 per cent beats nearest competitor in area, Farnborough Hill, by two per cent and third place Salesian College by three per cent.

And in figures released by The Times, the school also sits in the top 10 in the nation for GCSE results for fee-paying schools with a small or no sixth form.

The all-girls’ school sits in eighth with 17.4 per cent of students obtaining A* results, 31.1 per cent achieving A grades and almost half the school, 48.8 per cent, landing themselves with grades of A* or A.

Upon the publishing of the league tables headmistress Annette Whatmough said: “Studying for GCSE examinations presents students with a great deal of pressure that they are not used to. 

“The results demonstrate the resilience, tenacity and hard work of the pupils and teachers. They should all be very proud. I know I am.”