The headteacher of Haverstock School has described this year’s GCSE results as “confusing” after a slump in performance from last year.

Ham & High: Joe Boyle. Picture: Polly Hancock.Joe Boyle. Picture: Polly Hancock. (Image: Archant)

Less than half of pupils at the school, in Haverstock Hill, Chalk Farm, achieved five A* to Cs, including English and maths - down to 48 per cent from 54 per cent last year.

Headteacher John Dowd said: “Overall this is a confusing set of results for us. Our forecast was for an overall improvement and this is clearly the case in a number of measures, including the percentage of A* to C grades, which has increased, the average point score which has significantly increased and the performance of our most able students which has increased.

“However these are anomalous with the overall A*-C grades, including maths and English, which are confusing and we are currently trying to identify what the issues are.”

Among the success stories at Haverstock was Hafisa Ahmed, 16, from Swiss Cottage, who walked away from the school yesterday with four A*s and five As.

Ham & High: Akram Rahman. Picture: Polly Hancock.Akram Rahman. Picture: Polly Hancock. (Image: Archant)

Akram Rahman, 16, of Malden Road, Chalk Farm, is moving to UCL Academy, in Swiss Cottage, from Haverstock to study A-levels having obtained two A*s, two As, six Bs and a C.

Joe Boyle, 16, of Archway, who moved to Haverstock from Acland Burghley School in Tufnell Park two years ago, celebrated one A*, five As, two Bs, two Cs and an E.