A troubled Merton secondary school could face the axe after being named as 20th worst for GCSE results nationwide.

Just 10 per cent of pupils at fresh start school Bishopsford Community College, in Morden, managed five or more GCSEs at grades A to C.

The figure two percentage points down on last year could mean closure for the school, which rose from the ashes of failing Watermeads in 1999.

Bishopsford now has less than two years to turn things around and prove at least 15 per cent of its pupils can make the grade. If not, it will be considered for closure in line with government policy announced last year which stipulated the cost of failing to meet the 15 per cent target figure.

The college was supposed to provide a fresh start for Watermeads pupils, after a poor Ofsted report branded the school as below the national average.

Parents persuaded the council to give pupils another chance by setting up Bishopsford to take over on a new site.

l Meanwhile, two independent schools in Wimbledon produced significantly high exam results, according to just-published government performance tables.

Fee-paying Kings College and Wimbledon High outperformed others while the best state school results were achieved by Ricards Lodge.

Between 59 and 63 per cent of pupils there have achieved GCSE grades A to C over the past four years.

The council could not comment on the A to C tables but referred to the GSCE A to G grades in their response.

Councillor Karl Carter said: These results show we have improved in two key areas, five+ A* GCSEs and the one+ A* to G GCSE categories.

Its clear there is work to be done to improve our standing for higher GCSE passes but there are many factors involved.

With regard to Bishopsford, discussions will take place between the school, the governors and ourselves, about how best to improve its performance.