GCSE results published last week showed that most schools in Barnet were continuing to improve.

Copthall School, in Pursley Road, Mill Hill, saw 67 per cent of its students achieving five A*-C grades, a jump of 11 per cent from 2005 and higher than the national average of 62.4 per cent.

While Whitefields School fell below the national average, with only 40 per cent of its pupils achieving five or more A*-C grades, it improved by two per cent on last year's figures, and some of its pupils have excelled.

Khalid Hottak, a pupil at the school in Claremont Road, Cricklewood, achieved 16 GCSEs at grades A*-C. The 16-year-old got two As, nine Bs, one C and a GNVQ after arriving in England six years ago from Afghanistan.

Khalid said: "I am very pleased, I cannot believe it. I would like to be a pilot one day. Both my grandfather and father worked in airports and I would like to continue the family tradition, but actually be a pilot. I know that education is the way forward and is the only way to get on."

Fellow pupil Yasmin Acquaah, 16, also did extremely well with seven As and three A*s. Laughing while clutching her results paper, she said: "It almost killed me, but I did it. Hard work really does pay off."

Eyitemi Cheke, 16, got one A* and eight As while Olufumbi Essiet, 16, was overcome when she saw that she had achieved five A*s two As, 2 Bs and one C.

Whitefields head teacher Peter Blenkisop said: "We are very proud of our students, they have done remarkably well and it shows in their results."

The Henrietta Barnett School, in Central Square, Hampstead Garden Suburb, did exceptionally well - every one of its pupils achieved at least five A*-C grades.

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School, in Nether Street, North Finchley, is just behind with 99 per cent of its pupils achieving five A*-C grades.

Stefania Alu, 16, who achieved seven A* and three As, said: "I was really happy, I really can't believe it. They were hard."

At King Alfred School, in North End Road, Golders Green, friends Beth Kahn and Vivian Laslett celebrated their results with an emotional hug. Vivian, 16, got eight A grades while Beth achieved nine A* grades. Beth, 16, said: "I am just ecstatic, I was hoping to do this well but had no idea that I would get these results. I am so pleased."

Cabinet member for education Councillor John Marshall said: "Copthall really have made a dramatic improvement and done exceptionally well. Barnet schools on the whole have done better than last year and this is testament to the council's commitment to a first-class education."