GCSE league tables have been released today by the Department for Education.

Since 2016, schools have been measured using the Progress 8 metric, which is designed to plot the improvement pupils make between their key stage 2 tests at the end of primary school and their GCSEs.

If a pupil makes the exact expected progress between entering secondary school and their GCSEs, they will score a 0 in the metric.

If they achieve higher than expected progress, their figure becomes a positive number.

If they achieve lower than expected progress, their figure becomes a negative number.

Here is how south Essex schools have been ranked according to their results:

Well above average

Westcliff High School for Boys Academy 0.92

Westcliff High School for Girls 0.86

Southend High School for Boys 0.73

Southend High School for Girls 0.71

The Eastwood Academy 0.6

Above average

St Thomas More High School 0.43

St Bernard's High School 0.4

Shoeburyness High School 0.18

Average

De La Salle School and Language College 0.22

Mayflower High School 0.12

St Clere's School 0.07

Woodlands School -0.04

The King John School -0.04

The FitzWimarc School -0.06

The Billericay School -0.14

The James Hornsby School -0.17

Below average

Beauchamps High School -0.21

The Cornelius Vermuyden School -0.22

The Sweyne Park School -0.23

The Appleton School -0.27

Greensward Academy -0.18

The Basildon Upper Academy -0.42

The King Edmund School -0.45

Well below average

Ortu Gable Hall School -0.52

Futures Community College -0.57

Castle View School -0.74

Cecil Jones Academy -0.75

The Deanes -0.94

Chase High School -0.95