Sutton, Kingston and Richmond boast the top three places in England with the highest GCSE pass rates in English and Maths, according to new data. 

Exam preparation platform Atom Learning found state schools in the three boroughs achieved the highest pass rate for GCSE exams during the 2021-2022 academic year. 

A spokesperson for Atom Learning commented on the findings: "The exam results showed a significant increase in the 2020-21 academic year and then a fall as they returned to external examinations in 2021-22."

Kingston scored higher than Richmond with 68.8% of students achieving grade 5 or above in English and Maths. Whereas 67.7% of Richmond state schools attained 67.7% of students achieving a grade 5 or above.

Sutton, which has almost double the number of state-school educated pupils in comparison to Kingston and Richmond at 3,118, achieved a 69.2% pass rate last academic year. 

An astonishing 42.8% marks the difference between the highest percentage of GCSE pass rates in Sutton, and the lowest percentage in Knowsley. 

Research has shown an overall increase in the percentage of pupils receiving a grade 5 or above in every region.

Local authorities in London and the South East of the country have the highest percentages of GCSE pass rates in English and Maths.

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The national average for England in 2022 was 48.84% of pupils from all local authorities able to achieve a grade five or higher.

The data also shows that 52.4% of girls were able to achieve a grade five or higher, whereas only 45.42% of boys achieved the same. 

The spokesperson added: "Pupils have missed valuable learning time over the past three years.

"It is also important to note that grade 5 is a 'strong pass' and is the baseline used by the government and further education. The numerical grading system denotes a grade 4 as a 'standard pass,' equivalent to the old C grade. The percentages of pupils achieving this is around 65% - 70%."