Pupils across Folkestone and Hythe have been heading back to school this morning to pick up the most important envelope of their lives so far.

Doors opened this morning as youngsters went to pick up their GCSE results.

Our reporters Matt Leclere and Sam Lennon were out and about at the schools finding out how they got on.

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All pupils at Folkestone School for Girls have gained at least five A* to C grades in GCSE this year.

The 100% achievement includes these grades in English and maths and this achievement has been made for four out of the last five years.

Principal Tracy Luke said: “These results are absolutely stunning. They must be some of the best in the country and certainly in the county. The girls have really worked hard, they are really bright kids and motivated and teachers have taught fantastically. It is a really good year for the school.”

Mrs Luke added that the average grades overall was A and several girls got straight A*s.
Out of 1,742 exams taken 40% of the grades were A and A.*

All Year 10 pupils have also sat their maths GCSEs a year early and 57% have achieved A* to A grades.

Sara Wain gained nine A*s, one A and a B. She said: “I didn’t think I’d get all this because I was quite nervous on the exam days. With some of the exams I was confident but with others I was really worried and quite upset.”

Another star pupils was Jorja Hills who got one A* Distinction, in further maths, plus seven A*s and four As.

She said: “The exams were hard but if you put the effort in you get the rewards. But I still didn’t expect the grades to be as good as they are. I started revising in January and studied every day. I organised myself for setting a timetable for this.”

Lily Haugh achieved three A*s in English literature, English language and history an her 10 remaining grades were at least B.

She said: “I am really pleased with this results but also surprised as I had some weak subjects like Spanish. I didn’t think that exam went well.”

Amy Paterson gained three As, in history, psychology and chemistry plus eight Bs and a C.
She said: “I am so pleased. I didn’t think I’d get all these grades but I put in a lot of hours into studying.”

Sara Wain gained nine A*s, one A and a B. She said: “I didn’t think I’d get all this because I was quite nervous on the exam days. With some of the exams I was confident but with others I was really worried and quite upset.”

It has been a turbulent year full of changes at Pent Valley College but new headteacher Ana Gibson said the school achieved some “good results”.

The school was rocked in the spring when long-standing headteacher Mario Citro and his deputies left following an inspection by Kent County Council education chiefs.

But the school says it is pleased with the results “despite facing challenging circumstances” in 2015.

Michaela Kolmosova picked up an A in Maths and four Bs as well as another A and two Cs.

She said: “I’m pretty happy. I got mostly Bs so that’s pretty good I think. I needed Bs to go to the Sixth Form I wanted to go to so this is good for me.

“I’m going to do maths, English biology and ICT or something like that. I’d like to do something to do with biology probably but I want to do the other things just in case.

“I was really nervous but now I’ve got it and it’s all ok and there’s food and drink so that’s always good.

“I was really struggling in some subjects but the teachers really helped me push myself.”

Patrik Lakatos said it was an “important and special day” for him.

He’s aiming to become a professional footballer through the M&M Football Academy in Folkestone but is determined to secure the C in maths he needs to progress.

The striker, who also plays for Folkestone Invicta under 18s, added: “I feel happy because I got my grades and I got my targets so it’s a good day today.

“I just need to get my C in maths to get to the football academy so I’m going to go back to school and do better.”

Mrs Gibson promised results would continue to improve next year with a lot of work going on behind the scenes and around the school.

Building work is going ahead to completely overhaul the school and give it a “facelift” clearing old temporary classrooms to make way for “new learning spaces”, Mrs Gibson said.

Nearly half the Year 11 pupils at Brockhill Park Performing Arts College in Saltwood achieved five A* to C grades including in English and maths.

Meanwhile 70% of achieved 5 A*-C grades at the Saltwood school in spite of declining national trends. And 30% of results were A*-B grades.

Top performing candidates included Coral Pryke-Syrett who attained two A* grades, five As and six Bs.

She said: “I am so pleased, it means that I can stay here at Brockhill and study for A levels in maths, biology and chemistry next year as I think I might like to do something in Science in the future.”

Millie Hoe achieved seven A grades and five Bs.

She burst into tears of joy after opening her results, saying “I am so pleased with my science results in particular as I found the papers really challenging, next year I am staying here at Brockhill to study for A Levels in biology, chemistry and English literature.”

Emily Arnold gained three As, eight Bs, and a C and said: “I am most proud of my B grade in further maths as it was difficult and I worked really hard for it. Next year I shall be studying for A Levels in Biology. chemistry and economics.”

Finally Rebecca Jones achieved four As, six Bs and 3 Cs and Tom Bradley attained four A grades, six Bs and two Cs.

Sonette Schwartz, Brockhill’s principal, said: "We are proud of the achievements of all our students. Our success is grounded in the solid relationships fostered at this school, the indefatigable dedication of all our staff and the unstinting support of our parents.

"The governors and I would like to thank parents, staff and students for a great year."

The Harvey Grammar School recorded another set of impressive results.

Headteacher Scott Norman hailed “an outstanding set of results” with the majority of pupils achieving the five A* to C grade benchmark including maths and English.

He praised the work of some of the boys who achieved “incredibly impressive” results including: Kenneth Gainsford and Ethan Pyott who both achieved 12 GCSE passes all at A* or A grades.

Other notable high achievers were Ryan Couchman Sawyer and Sushang Limbu with 12 passes including 11 at A* or A grades.

Joseph Dwyer collected 13 passes with 11 at A*and A and Joe Humphrey had 10 at A*or A.

Thomas Adams and Oliver Rhys-Jones both received 12 passes with 10 at A* and A while Jacob Bower, Saul Owen and Kieran Leigh received 11 passes with 10 at A* and A.

Mr Norman added: “A year of very hard work from our boys and staff has delivered another outstanding set of GCSE results. I am delighted that the vast majority of students have once again gained the national benchmark.

“It’s also very pleasing that all 14 of our Y11 students who are from disadvantaged backgrounds and for whom we receive additional pupil premium funding performed extremely well and gained the five A*to C including maths and English.

“The school was founded originally in 1674 to serve students from disadvantaged backgrounds and all involved can be proud to be delivering and achieving those outstanding outcomes.”

More than half of pupils at Folkestone Academy achieved the five A* to C benchmark.

The school said it was “very pleased” with the results and the pupils' success.

The vast majority of those who achieved the five A* to C grade did so with maths and English.

Headteacher Warren Smith said: “This group have worked extremely hard throughout their time at the Academy and I’m very pleased that their efforts have translated into such superb grades.

“As always, this is a team effort and the students have benefited from outstanding teaching and the very best pastoral care.”

Among some of the highest achievers at the school were Eden Lewis who gained two A*, five As, one B to go with a BTEC distinction.

Kaiya Eccles achieved three As, four Bs and a BTEC merit while Charlotte Avery picked up one A* grade, four A grades, three B grades and a BTEC merit.

Other notable successes include: Kira Riddalls who achieved three A grades, four B grades, two C grades and a BTEC merit as well as Tom Laws who gained four A grades, two B grades, one C grade and a BTEC distinction.

Chelsey Spearing got four A grades, two B grades, two C grades and two BTEC merits.

Bishal Thapa Magar achieved five A grades, three C grades and a BTEC pass. Scott Broom collected two A grades, four B grades, two C grades, a BTEC merit and a BTEC distinction

They will all continue to study at the Glassworks Sixth Form centre.