Pupils at Sir Charles Lucas School in Hawthorn Avenue, Colchester, equalled their best ever results with 43 per cent gaining five or more A-C grades.
Head of year 11, Wendy O'Neill, said: "We had a number of students work so hard for the past five years and they have reaped the rewards from that."
Special mention was given to special educational needs pupils.
And one pupil who was given particular praise was head girl Kerry Howard, of Longridge, who achieved six A* to C grades.
Mrs O'Neill said: "She is someone who has worked so hard and given it 200 per cent. This girl, you could never fault her for effort."
Kerry has overcome the odds to get the grades she wanted to get into Colchester Sixth Form College.
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