Identical twins getting identical grades were among the star performers in Canterbury as pupils collected their GCSE results today.

Schools recorded some of their best-ever outcomes, with the proportion of youngsters earning top grades surging to an all-time high.

With no exams having taken place, results are based on teachers’ estimated grades - taking into account students' work throughout the year.

However, the nervous wait for those who took Btec courses will continue into next week following a last-minute review of grades.

Teachers from the Archbishop's School are very pleased with their student's results.

"With an average of a half-grade increase in progress for students as a whole, we are very proud of their successes," they say.

"It is always great to see their hard work come into fruition. Similarly the number of students achieving top end grades has also significantly improved for us with one student banking eight grade 7-9 GCSEs without Btec results.

"It is shame we have not been able to recognise their achievements within the Btec as yet - but as soon as this is possible we look forward to celebrating again with our students.

Masami Iliffe and Richie Smartt were among the top performers at the school.

Meanwhile, over at Barton Court Grammar School, a jubilant Harry Davis, who achieved eight 9s and three 8s, said: "At first when I heard there won't be exams, it was very frustrating as I'd done so much revision - it was a shame not put all that hard work together.

"But once the whole system was sorted, I was confident as I did well in my mocks and throughout the year.

"I'm very glad I put all the effort in during the year."

Fellow high achiever Lauren Todd, who is hoping to get into a career of engineering, earned an astounding ten 9s and two 8s.

She said: "I'm very pleased with it.

"It was quite upsetting that we couldn't do exams as I worked so hard beforehand. Exams are definitely the fairest format for everyone.

Headteacher Jonathan Hopkins said: “Our Year 11 students were set to achieve very highly this summer until lockdown was imposed in March. As a year group they were both very talented and hard-working and were set to be some of our highest achieving students in Barton Court’s recent history.

“The results reflected both the quality of teaching that students received across their subjects and the support that the parent body provides to the school and their children.

"When this is combined with the commitment of a great year group, students achieve great results.”

Over at St Anselm's Chloe Lavender said: "This year was a bit weird with everything that's gone on - everything felt quite uncertain.

"So it's a relief to get the results and I actually did a lot better than I was expecting."

Twins Emily and Hannah Clarke at Simon Langton Girls got the exam same marks, but in different subjects.

Both got nine 9s and one 8. Asked how they have found this unusual academic year, Emily said: "It was quite stressful but it's turned out OK.

Staff at Canterbury College say they are "extremely proud" of all the hard work their students put in.

Joseph Allen overcame the challenges of dyslexia to successfully pass GCSE English.

The 16-year-old, who studied the GCSE whilst completing a Btec in Level 2 Bricklaying, plans to return to the college to study plumbing.

Principal Lucy McLeod said: “The vast majority of students carried on engaging with lessons and communicating with lecturers during the lockdown, which has not been easy for anyone. The students should be very proud of themselves.

“Unfortunately, every year there will be a few students who have not achieved what they had hoped, and my staff are on hand to offer advice and guidance about their next steps.”

News from our universities, local primary and secondary schools including Ofsted inspections and league tables can be found here.

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