Four of England's top six comprehensive schools are Jewish, according to a Sunday Times table published this week.

Hertfordshire's Yavneh College was the leading state-aided Jewish comprehensive this year, and second in the country overall, followed by Hasmonean High School, London (third), King David High School, Manchester (fourth) and JFS, London (sixth).

Yavneh head Spencer Lewis said that "the achievement of our pupils at GCSE and particularly at A-level is exceptional and I am so proud of them."

The results were down to "outstanding teachers, motivated pupils, excellent facilities and an incredible system of guidance and support, all of which goes a long way to ensure such academic success," he said.

"It is also wonderful to see so many Jewish schools right at the top of the list, proving once again how much faith schools achieve and contribute to British society."

The chairman of King David's governors, Joshua Rowe, said that the overall Jewish school rankings were "a tribute to a culture which values education so highly".

Faith schools, he added, were "the jewel in the crown of the British education system" and, instead of being attacked in some quarters, should be lauded and emulated.

The newspaper listed the top 2,000 schools according to the percentage of A* to B grades at A-level and A* to As at GCSE this year, giving double weight to A-levels.

All four comprehensives made the top 100 state-aided schools, the vast majority of which had academically selective entry: Yavneh was ranked 71, Hasmonean 79, King David 86 and JFS 95.

Immanuel College in Hertfordshire also made the list of top 200 private schools, ranked 139 (up from 161 last year).

Of the five Jewish schools, Immanuel performed best at GCSE, while Yavneh clinched top spot for A-level.

Immanuel head Charles Dormer said that its pupils "aim at high personal, social, communal and Jewish goals, and we are pleased when their challenging education brings them the best examination results, and yeshivah, seminary and university
places."