La Retraite Roman Catholic School in Clapham Park was the highest performing state secondary school in Lambeth last year, with 55 per cent of pupils achieving grade A-C in their GCSEs, according to the latest national league tables.

The Catholic girls school runs homework and revision clubs for pupils to help them with their exams. Student Patricia Doyle, who is now studying A levels at the schools sixth form, got eight A-grades and two B-grades in her GCSEs last year.

The 16 year old said: Its a good school, teachers encourage you and people are really friendly. We were told to start revising sooner rather than later for our exams and we had revision classes after school and at lunch time which really helped.

Headteacher Maureen Howie was confident the results could be bettered next year. They reflect the solid work by staff and girls but were not going to get complacent, she said.

Overall, schools in Lambeth and Southwark had mixed fortunes in this years league tables.

At Waverley School for girls in Dulwich, 23 per cent of pupils attained five GCSE A-C results. According to exam officer Mrs N Shariff, the schools results were held back because six girls who were in year 10, and therefore not ready to take the exams, were included in the Government statistics because of their birth dates. The school said it had achieved 90 per cent in the more broad ranging GCSE A-G results after taking into account the discrepancy.

Mrs Shariff said: We may not have reached the national average on five or more GCSE A-Cs, but were doing very well with the girls and catering for their wider needs.

The school offers a wide range of more practical courses and is introducing mentoring schemes.

According to the annual survey, only 19 per cent of pupils at Norwood School got five GCSE A-C grades.

Principal Barbara Will-

iams was keen to stress the figure was an improvement on last year and that the school had turned a corner, with 93 per cent of pupils now leaving with five G grades or above.

She said: Given the prior attainment data of those entering the school at 11, we were pretty close to the mark. Im very sure were making progress.

I really do feel confident that next year we will have a bigger measure of improvement.

The school has employed an academic counsellor and invested resources in a learning resource centre, new computer equipment and textbooks.

The vast majority of schools work very hard with students and although GCSEs are an important measure, they are not the only one, said Ms Williams.

By.Simeon Brody