Haringey schools achieved their best ever GCSE results last week, with figures showing that those in the east of the borough in Tottenham and Wood Green, are rapidly catching up with their counterparts in the west.

For the sixth successive year, schools in the east closed the gap on those in the west for the number of pupils gaining five or more A* to C passes.

In 2001, only 18 per cent of pupils in the east achieved five or more A* to C grades compared with 48 per cent of pupils in the west. This year it is 48 per cent in the east and 61 per cent in the west. If the trend continues at the same rate it has for the past six years, there will be nothing to chose between east and west by 2010.

Northumberland Park Community School, in Trulock Road, Tottenham, is indicative of the rapid improvement made by schools in the east. In 2003, only 20 per cent of its students achieved five or more A* to C grades; this year it was 66 per cent - making it the second best performing school in Haringey.

The school's headteacher, Andy Kilpatrick, said: "We were expecting another significant improvement in attainment but 66 per cent is way beyond our highest expectation. It goes to show what can be achieved by excellent teaching, precise progress monitor- ing, high expectations and insistence on good behaviour."

Gladesmore Community School, in Crowland Road, South Tottenham, has also improved vastly in the past few years under the direction of head teacher Tony Hartney - a feat recognised in June when Mr Hartney was made a CBE for turning the school around. A spokeswoman for Haringey Council said: "There are increasing numbers of pupils in the east doing better. In 2006, around 360 more pupils in the east achieved five higher grades compared with 2001. This year's figures also indicate that there are now more young people from the east of the borough with the potential to progress to our new sixth form and to further and higher education."

The overall pass rate for pupils earning at least 5 A* to C grade GCSEs rose by six per cent on 2005 to 53.6 per cent however Haringey's results are still below the national average which stands at 61.6 per cent.