Year 11 pupils at the Royal Docks Academy are set to work to an extended school day, as well as on Saturdays, as part of a bid to boost the school’s GCSE results.

Youngsters at the school - formerly the Royal Docks Community School - will attend school between 7.45am and 5pm every day, with the extra hours used for revision and exam preparation sessions. Revision sessions will also take place att he school on Saturdays.

It is part of a bid by the Burnt Mill Academy Trust, which took over the school early this month, to achieve a six-point plan of success by 2020.

This includes having the number of students achieving GCSE grade 5 - a ‘good pass’ equivalent to a high B or low C - in English and maths to be above the national average.

The school also aims to be at or above the national average for all subjects and to achieve and sustain a positive Progress 8 score - which measures how much progress a pupil makes since starting secondary school.

Executive headteacher John Blaney said: “I have very high expectations for our students.

“I expect every child to leave us having made excellent progress, regardless of their starting point; I want them to develop as well-rounded individuals; I want them to have the opportunity to go to any university in the world or embark on apprenticeships which lead them on to exciting careers they deserve.

“The trust has very high expectations of behaviour and an unofficial motto of ‘hard work pays’.

“The trust has an excellent track record of outstanding GCSE results. I know that through an excellent education, our students will be able to reach their full potential.”

Head of school Andrew Ross added: “What we are looking to do is nothing new.

“This is an exciting time. The partnership with BMAT will benefit and support us as we head towards becoming an outstanding school.”

The Prince Regent Lane school has also appointed lead practitioners in a variety of subjects as well as a new asssistant headteacher, Matt Carter, who will launch a new curriculum in September.

Burnt Mill Academy Trust operates primary and secondary schools in Harlow, Epping and Stanstead.

Royal Docks’ involvement with the trust had caused controversy among parents and staff, with some members of the National Education Union going on strike in December to try and halt the academisation.