Students from across Gravesend and Dartford are receiving those all important GCSE results today.

The Class of 2020 had already put up with unprecedented disruption, and that was without the row over algorithms.

Teenagers in Kent and Medway collecting GCSE results today are to be given the marks their teachers think they would have got should they have sat exams, as the fallout from A-level results continues.

Dartford Science and Technology College, Dartford

Tani Awosanya (left) from Greenhithe and Alicia Bamigboye from Swanley, were both pleased with their results after the uncertainty of the last few months.

Tani, who is going to study the IB at Rochester Grammar, said: “I’m very pleased. I got four 6s, three 7s and one 8. I wasn’t that nervous but I’m happy. I’m looking forward to a new start. I want to study medicine - I’ve always wanted to do it since I was a child.”

Alicia said she was going to Beths Grammar School in Bexley and hoped to study engineering in the future.

“I was nervous this morning but overall my results were good. I was aiming for a 9 in maths and got 8. I was aiming for an 8 in physics and got 8. It’s good overall.

“It was stressful not doing exams - I was looking forward to doing them because I revised a lot. I think if I had the exams I would have had a chance to aim higher. I was angry at first but I’m happy now because it would have added so much stress.”

Faith Howard from Hextable was pleased with four 9s, three 8s, two 7s, one 6 and a distinction in dance; and is now heading to Wilmington Grammar to study maths, biology, chemistry and geography A-levels.

“I did better than I was expecting,” she said. “I think I was partially pleased not to do exams but a little bit sad that I didn’t get the experience.

“It was confusing. I was nervous about what would happened with the algorithm. I think it was sensible going back to centre assessed grades, and it gave a little bit of relief for students.”

Faith is ultimately hoping to go onto university and study neuroscience.

Anne Davis, principal at Dartford Science and Technology College said she was relieved to get to this day after all the uncertainty of lockdown.

“For GCSE students we didn’t know what they were going to get. The day before yesterday we found out they were going to get centre-assessed grades. We looked at a range of things from how they did in the mocks, to how they did in essays.

“For some students they have got better marks than we gave them if the algorithm gave them a higher mark.

"None of them will have done worse than expected because you’ve got that safety net.

“It’s been a difficult time for everybody but I’m glad they relented and let us have centre assessed grades.

“The teaching profession needs to be trusted to get this right. We know them best and we know what they are capable of.

“Exams do favour those that pull it out of the bag at the last minute. No one knows what will happen in the following years so we will explain to the students how important it is to be consistent – it may work in our favour to help focus minds."

A further statement from the school gave particular congratulations to Riddhi Patel with six grade 9s, two grade 8s and one grade 7 at GCSE; Alicia Giaccone-Munn with two grade 9s, four grade 8s, two grade 7s and one grade 6; Avipsha Deuja with two grade 9s, a Distinction*, 4 grade 8s, a Distinction and two grade 7s; and Katelin Ball with three grade 9s, five grade 8s, and two grade 7s.

Gravesend Grammar School, Gravesend

Sach Thamdi from Goodwood Crescent, Gravesend, said: “I’m really happy. I got all 9s except for two 8s. I wasn’t too nervous because I thought it was out of my control. I wanted to do the exam because you’re working towards it for so long.

“I’m going to do maths, history and economics at A-level and maybe study law at university.”

Arjun Juty from The Avenue, Gravesend, got all 9s and is going to study A-levels in maths, further maths, physics and economics.

“I love maths,” he said. “I think I like the difficulty, I like the challenges and I like the algebra.

“I was worried and confused but I did have faith in my teachers. It’s annoying that I didn’t get to do the exams but I’m still happy.

“The mocks were similar to my results but I’m still amazed. I can’t believe it.”

Maciej Rytlewski from Ferguson Avenue, Gravesend, got all 9s and is going to study computer science, maths, further maths, and Spanish.

“I was bit nervous,” he said. “It built up over the last few days and I was wondering what’s going to happen. I wanted to do the exam for the experience of it.”

Twins Ashraf and Armaan Uddin are celebrating together after getting a straight set of 9s.

“It was what I was expecting,” Ashraf said. “I was a bit nervous. I can’t complain - I got all 9s.”

Armaan also got all 9s and is going to study maths, further maths; computer science and Spanish. “I wanted to do the exams because I wanted the experience for A-level exams, but I’ve got the highest results I could get so I’m not complaining.”

Joshua Harris from Caspian Way, Swanscombe, got seven 9s and two 8s, and an A in AS-level maths.

“It’s higher than I thought I would get,” he said. “I wasn’t as nervous as I would have been if I had done the exams properly. I knew what my teachers had predicted me.

“We still had to work hard for them.”

Head teacher Malcolm Moaby said it had been another hugely successful year for the school despite a tough and challenging period for staff and pupils.

"We are very proud of the achievements of all our students," he said. "The last six months have been incredibly difficult for students and their teachers as the situation has changed rapidly.

"Our results are consistent with previous cohorts and for many they are the springboard to the next phase in their academic journey."

Wilmington Grammar School for Girls, Dartford

It certainly was a different results day experience this year for many with one pupil collecting her results by phone on the beach.

Amelia Landa, who bagged an impressive set of 9s and 8s in all her subjects, clasped her hand to her mouth when reading her grades.

She said it was a "great way to end such a challenging year".

Pupils also celebrating excellent success from the school in Parsons Lane include Beatrice Manicardi-Settle, who achieved 9s in all 10 of her subjects.

Charlotte Hooper, Jenny Jones and Rhianna Kent all secured 9s and 8s across the board.

Charlotte said “I’m so happy with my results, all that hard work paid off. I’m looking forward to coming back to join the Sixth Form.”

Head teacher Michelle Lawson said: "This was certainly not how I had envisaged GCSE results day.

"It has been a wonderful year and I have been delighted with progress made by our girls, so it has been difficult to see them denied the chance to take their examinations and celebrate so many other ‘end of Year 11’ milestones.

"I am pleased that the students have received the results that they deserve, based on a tremendous amount of hard work and determination. We are all incredibly proud."

Wilmington Grammar School for Boys, Dartford

Boys throughout the school delivered an impressive set of results amid the growing uncertainty of the pandemic and marking system for this year.

The school's standout students included Heet Mehta – who hopes to go on to study medicine at university – Theo Stewart Griffiths, Callum Hudson, William Johnson and William Searle.

Head teacher Charlie Guthrie praised the class of 2020 as a "remarkable cohort" in spite of the challenges faced during their studies.

He added: "Our students must take pride in their achievements. This remarkable cohort did not have the opportunity to shine in their exams and many of the other events that mark the end of Year 11 have also been denied them.

"However, during their time at the school they have been exemplary and their legacy will not be defined by Covid, but rather by their spirit, diligence and determination.

"They have, on many occasions, acted as role models to the whole community and they have risen to every challenge they have been set."

Most pupils will be returning to the sixth form next year, Mr Guthrie added.

Northfleet School for Girls, Northfleet

Pupils achieved an outstanding set of results with the school improving its year-on-year performance in 2020.

Shock mixed with delight were among the overriding emotions for girls at the school in Hall Road as they arrived to pick up their all-important envelopes.

Head teacher Chris Norwood sent a message to all the pupils as he praised the school's "excellent" results.

"It is a pleasure to celebrate an excellent set of results with our Year 11 students," he said.

"We want to say well done to all students, you worked really hard with your teachers and very much deserve these results.

"Our tracking before Covid-19 showed that you were on course to make well above average progress and through your continued engagement since March this has now been reflected in your final grades.

"You have managed to increase results yet again on previous years.

"Thanks for being such great students and working with us in this difficult time. We hope you are proud of your individual achievements and we look forward to welcoming many of you back for Sixth Form in September."

St George's Church of England School, Gravesend

In a year of turmoil, head teacher Stephen Carey said this year's results were not all about numbers and data.

Stephen Carey reflected on the "exceptional" progress made by the current cohort of Year 11 pupils and praised their accomplishments over the past five years at the school in Meadow Road.

He said: "We would like to congratulate all of our Year 11 students for their achievements.

"They, and we, are incredibly grateful to the dedicated teaching and support staff across the school whose tireless efforts and commitment have made this possible.

"However, this year, more than any other, our thoughts are not primarily about data.

"We are immensely proud of the young people they have grown to be and feel confident that whatever their next steps, as sixth formers or college students, they will prove to be an asset to our wider community as they continue to strive to be the best version of themselves."

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