Students at NewVIc college in Plaistow have bucked the national trend by achieving their highest pass rate yet.

The Plaistow sixth-form recorded a 96 per cent pass rate - and a total of 89 A* and A grades.

Forty per cent of the candidates took the ‘facilitating’ subjects as required by the elite universities. These include English, biology, and mathematics.

Among the relieved teenagers were Custom House students Emily Knight and Rosey Whelan, both 19.

They each achieved a distinction and two merits in their BTEC extended diplomas in applied science and will go to Middlesex University to study psychology with criminology.

Emily said: “I was nervous because you always doubt it. I was hopeful but you have to see your results to believe it.

“We’ve had to work hard over the last two years for this.”

NewVIc principal Eddie Playfair said: “Once again, NewVIc students have achieved excellent results.

“They are well deserved and they come after two years of tremendous commitment and consistent hard work from all these students and their teachers.”