Almost a third of 16-year-olds in Merton failed to pass their English and maths GCSEs this year, according to the Department for Education.

Figures for the 2017-18 academic year show that 32 per cent of students didn't reach the required passing grade in both subjects.

Those 446 students are now facing compulsory resits in June next year.

A total of 1,404 students took their GCSEs this year. Most of the exams are now graded on a 1-9 scale under the new system.

A pass grade, previously a C, is now a 4, with the top score of 9 reflecting the need for a grade higher than the previous A*.

The Government has defined a grade 5 as a 'strong pass', which would fall between a B and a C in the old system.

Merton Council’s cabinet member for education, Caroline Cooper-Marbiah, said: “We are very proud of the educational accomplishments made by Merton pupils who continue to perform above the national average.

"Merton’s secondary schools have been judged as good or better by Ofsted, with more than half being rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Department of Education recently released their Statistical First Release which is the first formal acknowledgement of the achievements of pupils across the country.

"Merton continues to rank in the top 10 local authorities across the country. The ‘Attainment 8’ score (a measure of a pupil’s average grade across a set suite of eight subjects) is 49.6, which is strongly above the national average.

"68.2% of Merton young people achieved the grades of 9-4 in English and mathematics, in comparison with the national average of 64.2%.”

The Association of School and College Leaders, an education union, said that publishing how many pupils achieved a 'strong pass' is "an extremely confusing message for young people, their parents and employers".

General secretary Geoff Barton said: "The result is that many young people will have felt deflated and uncertain after taking this summer's exams, despite having worked their hardest."

"It cannot be right that we have a system which leaves so many students feeling crushed, rather than proud."

Pupil attainment at GCSE level and individual pupils' progress since starting secondary schools also form part of the school ranking system.

GCSE students in Merton had overall attainment scores that were broadly the same as the scores of other students in London, and above the national average.