Havering’s typical further education student leaves college one grade down on the UK average, new figures show.

But most of Havering’s further education centres are performing well above the national average, according to the Department for Education’s league tables, released on Thursday.

Of the seven centres for which data were available, five saw at least 86 per cent of pupils achieving three or more A levels at grades A* to E, or equivalent qualifications. The national average is 82.4 per cent.

The biggest success story is Sacred Heart of Mary Girls’ School in Upminster, 100 per cent of whose students achieved the benchmark.

Points per student, which take into account both the number of qualifications sat and the grades achieved, range from an average of 1041 at Sacred Heart of Mary to 427 at Havering College.

Sacred Heart of Mary’s score places it in Britain’s top four per cent of further education centres.

The national average is 733 points, roughly equivalent to three B grades, while Havering’s average is 667, roughly equivalent to two C grades and a B.

Overall, four of the borough’s seven further education centres who provided data have seen a drop in the average number of points their students gained.

Havering’s education boss Cllr Paul Rochford said: “I’d like to say ‘well done’ to everyone who has taken their A level exams.

“When Havering College scores are taken into account, there is a slight decline similar to the national figure but we should remember the hard work and success stories of the many individual students who make up these statistics.”

Havering College vice principal Pat Brennan-Barrett said: “Havering College of Further and Higher Education supports learners with lower levels of prior attainment, who study less than three A-levels. In addition to our full-time programmes we offer part-time courses where students are likely to do less than three A-levels.

“We offer students a wide range of vocational courses and training. For example, the number of students studying BTEC National Level 3 courses with us last year was 605 with a 91 per cent achievement rate. 152 students took the Extended National Diploma which is equivalent to three A-levels. 93 per cent passed this course.”