Sawtry Village Academy is in the top 10 of secondary schools in Cambridgeshire, according to new figures.

The school was ranked seventh with an above average rating in the ‘Progress 8’ category which marks the progress of pupils from the end of primary school to the end of secondary school.

Hinchingbrooke and St Peter’s in Huntingdon came in at 15th and 17th with average Progress 8 scores and there were also average scores for Abbey College, Ramsey and Longsands Academy, St Neots, ranked 23rd and 24th.

St Ivo, St Ives, and Ernulf Academy, St Neots, were given a below average rating for Progress 8 and came in at 26th and 29th.

However, all the schools were in the top half of the table.

Sawtry’s rating shows signs of further progress at the school which was in special measures in 2014 and also had financial and personnel problems. Former head James Stewart was jailed for four years last October on fraud charges.

The latest figures from the Department for Education show that education standards were continuing to rise at GCSE and A level in the East of England and that more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds were achieving good grades in core academic subjects.

School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: “Academic standards are rising in our schools thanks to our reforms and the hard work of teachers, with 1.9 million more children in good or outstanding schools than in 2010.

“In the East of England, schools are delivering excellent results for pupils, ensuring they have the knowledge and skills they need for future success. I would particularly like to celebrate the success of Chesterton Community College. Their effective and evidence-based approach to teaching has given more pupils in the area the opportunity for a high-quality education.

“We will continue to drive up standards even further for pupils across the country, helping to build a Britain that is fit for the future.”

The figures show 36.6 per cent of pupils entered all five components of the English Baccalaureate with 21 per cent passing all five, including a grade five or above in English and maths, the attainment gap between disadvantaged students had narrowed by 3.2 per cent over the year.

Full details of local schools are at: www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/find-a-school-in-england.