SOUTHEND and Westcliff’s grammar schools are celebrating after being named among the best in the region.

Westcliff High School for Boys finished number five in a list of the top state secondary schools in East Anglia, compiled by the Sunday Times.

Westcliff High School for Girls and Southend’s two grammar schools took the sixth, seventh and eighth positions - but Essex dominating the top ten.

Dubbed the Parent Power, it takes into account both GCSE and A-level results.

Dr Robin Bevan, headteacher of Southend High School for Boys, in Prittlewell Chase, told the Echo: “It’s fantastic news.

“A lot of hard work goes on here, the teachers, the pupils, so it is a delight to receive some obvious public credit for that.”

Fiona Brierley, headteacher at Southend High School for Girls, in Southchurch Boulevard, added: “The students have worked very hard to achieve some outstanding results this year.

“They have been supported throughout their time by a dedicated group of teachers.

“We are very proud of all that our students have achieved, they are great.”

Strong A-level and GCSE results are behind the schools success in the league tables - with Westcliff High School for Boys achieving 76 per cent A* to B grades at A-level and 71.7 per cent A* and A grades at GCSE.

King Edward VI Grammar School, in Chelmsford, topped the table for state secondary schools in East Anglia - with Chelmsford County High School for Girls finishing second.

Colchester Royal Grammar School and Colchester County High School for Girls made up third and fourth places in the league.

Nationally, Westcliff and Southend’s grammar schools have also performed very well - with all but Southend High School for Girls finishing in the top 100 this year.

Southend High School for Boys climbed from last year’s position at number 90 to 68 in the national ratings.

Southend High School for Girls finished just outside the top 100 at number 126th - down from its 91st finish last year.

Noone from Westcliff High School for Girls or Westcliff High School for Boys was available for comment before the Echo went to print.

The Parent Power rankings, now in their 24th year and released publicly today, are published several weeks ahead of the official Government tables.