Pupils across Castle Point have been achieving higher than expected results in their Key Stage Four exams.

New figures from the Government monitor how children performed in their GCSEs, or equivalent, based on predictions from exams taken when they were in junior school.

Schools scoring 1,000 have performed as expected, while figures below and above mean students have performed either worse or better than predicted.

Across Castle Point, schools achieved an average of 1002.5.

The Deanes School, in Benfleet, came top of the schools in the borough with a score of 1013.2; Furtherwick Park, Canvey, and Appleton School, Benfleet, both scored 1007.7; while Cornelius Vermuyden, Canvey, scored 1001.2.

Jason Carey, deputy headteacher at the Deanes, said the school had been focusing on personalised learning, setting up mentoring groups with community and business leaders.

A new website also allows parents, students and staff to monitor pupils' achievements, both academically and in extra curricular activities.

Mr Carey said: "We are really focusing on individual students' targets and we have had the theme of challenge throughout the year."

Wendy Missons, Headteacher at Furtherwick Park, said: "This is a fantastic result which reflects the hard work and real ability of the staff and students at Furtherwick Park School."

Falling just short of the 1,000 mark were King John School, Thundersley, which scored 995.2, and Castle View School, Canvey, scoring 988.5.