A school once forced to open just four days a week because of staff shortages has been named as the worst comprehensive in the country.

Just one in every 25 pupils at Beechwood School in Slough, Berkshire, got five or more top grades in last year's GCSE and GNVQ exams.

When the pupils were starting their courses two years ago, lessons were cut because the school did not have enough teachers.

The latest league table from the Department for Education ranks 3,565 secondary schools in England.

Beechwood is a school operating in challenging circumstances Chris Spencer, Slough Borough Council

Results are based on GCSE/GNVQ results from 16 year olds and tests taken by 14 year olds.

Beechwood, which has 550 boys and girls aged between 11 and 16, has slumped three places since last year, when 6% of pupils got five or more good GCSEs.

But Chris Spencer, director of learning at Slough Borough Council, said the school was getting better.

He said: "Beechwood is a school operating in challenging circumstances.

What this means is that we have an awful lot of work to do Headteacher Julia Sheppard

"We have been working closely with the head teacher, governors, the local community and the Department for Education and Skills to help plan improvements to the school.

"This has led to the development of a three-year plan of improvements which is now in its second year."

Mr Spencer said up to a quarter of pupils were expected to get five A*-C grade GCSEs this year.

Julia Sheppard, headteacher of Beechwood School, said: "What this means is that we have an awful lot of work to do.

"We have put in place a very sophisticated target setting process that predicts over the next two years a 500% increase.

"Recently we had a full Ofsted inspection, 14 inspectors visited the school for a week, and they gave us an absolutely excellent report," she said.