A Custom House secondary school is helping its pupils access private education worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Royal Docks Academy is using its links with private schools to help high-flying pupils apply for sixth form scholarships - and £822,464 worth of free schooling has been given to its students.

One place each year is reserved at Felsted School in Essex for a Royal Docks Academy pupil and “many others” secure places at other private schools, the school said.

Assistant headteacher Justin Hopgood said: “Private schools are full of children with straight As, so they need to not only have exemplary academic records, but also have a little something about them. It’s about more than just top grades.”

Last year’s head girl Agne Pasvanskaite, who got a place at Felsted, said: “I had some initial reservations about applying to Felsted as it meant moving away from home, but now I’m here I do feel so fortunate to have been given this life-changing opportunity.”

In September Year 11 student Georgie Bristow will head to Felsted School, while Mahim Chaudery and Milot Dvorani have got places to study at Colfe’s School in Greenwich.