RHYDDINGS High School in Oswaldtwistle has proved to be Hyndburn's top school for GCSE performance in national league tables released this week.
Pupils at the school achieved an astonishing improvement on last year's results, with 75 per cent of students getting five or more A to C grades.
Headteacher Barry Burke praised his students, saying: "Last year the figure was 46 per cent so we have done exceptionally well.
"We knew we had done well but didn't know it would be so impressive.
"This year's results include GCSE equivalents such as NVQs and that has made a real difference.
"We have a curriculum in place that is real and relevant to these kids.
"We are a business and enterprise school and some pupils see an extra relevance in some subjects, such as leisure and tourism and health and social care.
"They see they're studying something that doesn't stop when they're 16."
Mr Burke added: "As well as the pupils the staff, governors and parents have made the improvement possible and all are delighted.
"We have been building on our success for five years, but this improvement is down to a collaborative effort between home and school."
The next two schools in the table are St Christopher's, Accrington - which equalled its best-ever results with 67 per cent of pupils achieving five or more A* to C grades - and Norden High School in Rishton, which improved by three per cent but still fell under the Lancashire average of 53.8 per cent, with 43 per cent.
Bottom of the list lies Moorhead High School, which improved on last year's 17 per cent to achieve 21 per cent.
Headteacher Andrew Bateman said: "Our increase is very heartening and testament to the good work the pupils have done.
"Next summer we will have a significant improvement following a strategy put in place to raise attainment.
"The inclusion of GCSE equivalent courses has made a difference for other schools, but not ours because we don't offer those courses. However, we will do and our percentage will increase next year."
