Claims that a Ham school let down youngsters sitting their GCSE exams this year have been refuted by its leaders who said the students were given every chance to succeed.

Angry parents said Grey Court School had not done enough to help their children get good grades in GCSE exams sat in May and June.

But leading figures at the school have hit back and said students who put in hard work before their exams would have had the best chance of success.

Results announced last Thursday revealed 53 per cent of Grey Court pupils achieved five A*-C grade passes, 60 per cent of exams were given A*-C grades and 311 A* or A grades were awarded.

One unhappy parent said: "The school completely let that year group down, I'm fuming.

"Results could have been so much better if the school had been on top of the situation, there are things they could have done to push the results up.

"From the word go they thought the year group was a lost cause and they weren't going to bother, I feel as though they never backed them.

"Coming up to GCSEs they should have concentrated on them but my son says certain areas of the syllabus weren't covered, revision courses weren't run and I feel as though they did the minimum."

Another parent echoed these concerns and claimed the school believed the year group was responsible for the school going into special measures two years ago and did not bother with them.

Another parent said no extra classes were held even after she asked for them and added her son would turn up to lessons and the teacher would not.

She said: "He missed large chunks of his syllabus and couldn't catch up.

"I lay a lot of the blame with the school and I feel sorry for the kids, they were giving up towards the end.

"My son didn't have proper teaching for a large amount of time, he just said he couldn't do it."

Grey Court admit results were disappointing, but said extra classes were run after school and at lunchtimes.

It said revision classes were run in October and February half terms and students were encourage to attend a two-week programme with specialist classes during Easter.

Parents were given updates regarding coursework completion and progress checks were posted home each term.

Frank Kitson, chair of governors, said: "The school has worked hard to ensure that proper provision and catch-up was provided for the older students, to ensure that all those who were willing to work hard would have the best chance at their GCSEs."

Marie Smith, acting headteacher, said: "I think we did everything we could to help the students do their best."