STAFF and students at Alec Hunter Academy are celebrating after the school secured the best set of GCSE results in its history.

Fifty-five per cent achieved five A*-C grades including English and maths- a rise of seven per cent from last year.

Headteacher of the academy in Braintree, Trevor Lawn said: "This sustained trend of improvement is clear evidence of the positive direction in which the school is heading.

"I am delighted for the students who worked so hard to achieve these outcomes and also for the Alec Hunter staff, whose commitment to supporting our young people is exceptional."

At the academy in Stubbs Lane numerous students gained outstanding individual results, including Amy Hogan who bagged a staggering seven A* grades and three A grades.

Mark Burnitt was the top achieving boy with five A*s, two As, two Bs and a C.