A SOUTHALL school has been named in the top 300 best performing in the country for GCSEs, according to Government figures.

Villiers High School in Boyd Avenue scored plus 0.58 in Progress 8 attainment, which measure the progress pupils make from the start of secondary school until GCSEs.

The results, which are more than half a grade higher than the national average of zero, put the school in the top two per cent nationally. The average score for Ealing is plus 0.43.

Deputy head Chris Richards said: “These [results] are all the more impressive given students achieved them against the backdrop of new exams in English and Maths.

“It is a testament to the quality of teaching at this school and the hard work and dedication of the entire school community.

“The school has developed a culture of high aspiration and expectation for its pupils, which is reflected in our success in exams.

“No matter what the ability of a student, if you attend Villiers High School then you will receive better grades than expected.”

Ayah Alharahsheh was the school most improved pupil, having arrived on a C/D grade but left with A’s and A*.

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She is now doing her A-levels in the sixth form and has set her sights on studying biology at Cambridge.

She said: “At primary school, they would not have said I was one of the intelligent pupils.

“The difference at this school is that they work very closely with you to make sure you improve. Right from the start the teachers here were absolutely great.

“Considering how far I have come, why shouldn’t I keep dreaming big.”