GCSE passes may have dropped nationwide but Lewisham and Greenwich youngsters' results were up on last year.

In Greenwich, the borough saw an increase of two per cent in the proportion of students gaining the benchmark five A* to C grades including English and maths. This proportion now stands at just over 65 per cent.

For Lewisham, 58 per cent hit the benchmark figure, up by two per cent on 2012.

And six Lewisham schools - Addey and Stanhope School, Forest Hill School, Sedgehill School, Sydenham School, Prendergast Hilly Fields College and St Matthew Academy - recorded their best ever results.

At Addey and Stanhope School in New Cross more than 71 per cent of students achieved five good GCSEs including maths and English.

Headteacher Ann Potter said: "We are delighted with these fantastic results which have been achieved by working in partnership with students, staff and parents, and truly reflect the ethos of Addey and Stanhope as a family school."

Over at Sedgehill School, standout performances included Amlan Banaji, 16, who gained 11 A* grades and 16-year-old Uosaf Farhang, who bagged nine A*s and three As.

Conisborough College student, Thuvaraka Alagusiththiram, 16, joined in Year 7 when she spoke little English, but has gone on to gain five A*s,  three As, two Bs and a distinction in IT.

The wannabe doctor said: "I owe my success to the school’s early morning English as an additional language reading club, state of the art resources, supportive teachers and a friendly environment."

Newly named Harris Academy Greenwich bagged record GCSE results with 82 per cent of students achieving five A*-C including maths and English - an increase of nine per cent on last year.

And at Blackheath Bluecoat School, closing next summer, a whopping 70 per cent of pupils got five good GCSEs including English and maths - an 11 per cent rise on last year.

Elsewhere, at Eltham Hill, 72 per cent of pupils got five or more A* to Cs including English and maths, The John Roan achieved its best ever results with 78 per cent, while Thomas Tallis hit 65 per cent.