It's A-level results day and thousands of teenagers across north west Kent are gearing up to open those envelopes and find out how they have done.

Experts are predicting slightly more As and A*s this year and our reporters are out at several schools to find out how people did.

KentOnline is bringing you a round up across the county, and more updates on schools in Gravesend and Dartford will be added here as the morning goes on.

Dartford Science and Technology College

Pupils recorded DSTC’s best ever A-level results.

Star performers included Salma Ahmed who achieved A, B, B in history, English and media and Mia Clayton who achieved A, B,C in media, English and history.

Alison Chapman, acting principal, said: “Our students and staff have worked incredibly hard this year and they have been rewarded with our best ever results.

“We have seen a significant increase in students achieving the highest grades. 70% of all grades were awarded A* - B. In vocational courses an impressive 68% were awarded the highest grade possible, distinction *. There was an overall pass rate of 99%.

“Every year more students secure their first choice university place and this year is no exception. We have students going to study a wide range of courses from biomedical science to architecture and education.

"Other students have also secured employment and apprenticeships. We wish them all every success in the future.”

Northfleet School for Girls

Head teacher Chris Norwood said: “We are very pleased to announce another year of successes for our students.

“We have seen significant rises in individual attainment, most notably our vocational subjects, with 60% of grades now at distinction or distinction* level.

“We would particularly like to congratulate Hannah Zdzylowski and Sophie Winter for achieving distinction* in art as well as Joel Garcia and Kate-Louise Jeal in sport.

“These results are the culmination of considerable hard work by our students as well as the dedication of our staff and parents to ensure the best possible support and learning is in place. We wish all our students a prosperous future and know that they will continue to build on their strengths.”

Hannah Zdzylowski, 18, studied media studies and art and got B, B distinction*. She will study advertising at Ravensbourne University in London.

He said: “I’m a lot happier than I was walking in the door. I was terrified because I had a place already but had no idea about my results.”

Sophie Winter, 18, studied art and media and got distinction * and B. She will be on the same course as Hannah.

She said: “I’m really happy, I was expecting it but it hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Niamh Young, 17, got distinction in performing arts and also studied psychology. She has secured an apprenticeship in a pre-school doing level three childcare.

She said: “I know I have always wanted to work with children, and performing arts will help me to do this. I’m happy with my grades because they’ve got me to where I am now.”

Longfield Academy

Longfield Academy said it recognised the challenges that came with post-16 study and developing the skills and mindset needed to become independent students with a positive and focused attitude.

Staff said they were incredibly proud of their pupils and their results.

Principal Alex O’Donnell said: “Whether they are continuing on to further education or entering the world of work, we know that our students have developed skills during their time at Longfield Academy that they will be able to transfer to the next stage in their lives.

“Their resilience, determination and commitment will ensure that they strive for the success we know they are able to achieve.

“I would like to commend our students for their fantastic achievements and thank parents, carers and Longfield Academy staff for everything that they did to help support and encourage our students. We look forward to hearing about the next steps you take.”

This year, pupils secured 73% A*-C, 40% A*-B. Special mention went to Deepak Chopra who was awarded A*, A*,A and to Robin Nixon who was awarded A,A,B. All pupils have secured places either at university or an apprenticeship.

Simon Beamish, chief executive of Leigh Academies Trust said “I am delighted with A-level results at Longfield Academy and across Leigh Academies Trust’s six secondary schools.

“They are our best results ever this year, in some cases by a very large margin. They show the power of working within a successful and dynamic multi-academy trust.

“Our students and staff deserve all the accolades that will flow from here."

Olivia Wright, 18, got Cs in photography, English and sociology and is off to University of the Arts London to do an art and design foundation course specialising in photography.

Jessica Murphy, 18, got B, B, D in English literature, IT and sociology and will study English lit at Bath Spa university.

Stephen Fish got B, C, D in business, English literature and geography and will study law at Essex while Deepak Chopra (A*A in double business and A in English lit) is off to Queen Mary University to study law.

Wilmington Academy

Head teacher Tracey Trussler said: “The students have done really brilliantly. It is our best ever year of post-16 results.

“All of our students achieved A* to E grades, 82% achieved A* to C grades, and 49% achieved A* and A grades, which is up from 35% last year.”

Fred Gullifer studied applied business, law and double IT (2 A*s and a C) and will study law at Kent.

He said: “I’m happy with my results and the hard work paid off in the end. Law is the thing that interested me most when I was in secondary school and in sixth form.”

Jonathan Malt got A* and two Bs in applied business, IT and finance and is also off to Kent, to study business administration.

He said: “I’ve liked business since I was at school and I’ve got a real passion for it as well. All the hard work was worth it. I can’t wait to start on the journey.”

Mayfield Grammar School

The school was delighted with this year’s figures which saw 18% of pupils get A*-A, 48% get A*-B and 80% get A*-C.

Head teacher Elaine Wilson said: “Just under half of the exams our students sat at A-level achieved a grade of A*, A or B.

“We are understandably proud of our students and their results are testament to their hard work and commitment together with the excellent teaching they receive at school.

“Our most recent Ofsted report (June 2013) was ‘Outstanding’ in all areas and stated ‘the sixth form is outstanding. Teaching is exceptionally strong and, as a result, students make excellent progress’.

“I would like to congratulate our students and staff and wish our students every success in the future.”

Pupils with exceptional results included: Roseanna Hook (3A*, 1A), Pavinder Kang (2A*, 1A), Bonita Rai (1A*, 2A), Lena Blacker (1A*, 1A, 1B), Hannah Rance (1A*, 1A, 1B), Yasmine Burrha (3A), Jasmin Bensted (1A*, 2B), Jasmin Dhillon (1A*, 2B), Siobhan Lillywhite (1A*, 2B)

Hannah Rance, 18, got A*, A, A, B in chemistry, maths, further maths and psychology and is going to study chemistry at Surrey.

She said: “I’m not sure what I want to do in the future, hopefully I’ll make up my mind at university. I’m really pleased, I did much better than I expected.”

Rosie Hook, 18 got 3A* and an A in French, Spanish, English literature and government and politics. She is going to study Spanish and French at Oxford.

She said: “My parents are just so happy that I’m happy. I did better than I expected, I needed three As.

“I’m thinking about a career as an interpreter in the future.”

Gravesend Grammar School

Sarah Tremain, the sixth form head, said she was “very pleased for our students who sat exams this summer and who have done very well indeed.”

She continued: “Young people and their families have had to go through difficult times as the structure and demands of A-levels have changed, so it is especially satisfying for them to have bettered the attainment of students last year and to have bucked national trends and produced improved outcomes.

“Our Year 13s attained nearly 30% A*/A grades with nearly 12 % being at the highest A* grade possible. 21 students excelled themselves in attaining three or more A*/A grades, with our top performers getting a maximum of four A* grades.

"Many students who might have attained D and E grades have worked so hard and have turned them into C grades.

“This performance should see our boys and girls accessing the places they want in higher education in a year where competition for places at top institutions or on prestigious courses will be fierce.”

Harry O’Neill, 18, studied history, physics and maths and got A*, A*, A. He will study history at Oxford.

He said: “I’m quite surprised but I’m so happy to be going to Oxford. I went for interviews and it seems like I fitted in. I am looking forward to getting stuck in with the course. Who knows what the future holds but I have no plans to enter parliament any time soon!”

Conor Hodges, 17 got three As in history, English literature and economics and will study history at UCL. He said: “I’m feeling excited and I’m looking forward to going into a subject that I really enjoy and hopefully it will lead me into a future career.”

Maisie Matthews, 18, got A, B, B in maths chemistry and physics. Maths at Kent university will be her next step.

She said: “Doing one subject I like is so exciting. I’m so nervous but so excited at the same time. It doesn’t feel real. The grade boundaries were so high I didn’t think I’d make it. There’s a party going on in town and we’ll all be there tonight.”

St John’s Comprehensive

Head teacher Matthew Barron said: “We are very happy with the results that we received today. We have improved from last year and we are hoping for very happy children this morning. Staff have worked hard and the children have got what they’ve deserved. It’s great to see so many tears of joy.”

Lauren Sharp, 18, studied English, psychology sociology and philosophy and ethics and got A*, A, A, B. She is off to Birmingham to study English.

She said: “I’m very excited, this means everything really. I didn’t think my exams went well. I’m going out with family now. We hadn’t planned anything in case they didn’t go to plan but now we are definitely going out.”

Niamh Winbolt, 18, studied maths, further maths, photography and got A* A* B, with 100% in a couple of her exams. She is off to King’s College to study maths.

She said: “I was really shocked with maths – you don’t know if you’ve nailed it or not! I got the email today and couldn’t believe it. It means so much I’ve worked so hard, it’s paid off.

"All my friends are coming around to celebrate tomorrow but today I’m out with the family.”

Wilmington Grammar Schools

Staff and students at both Wilmington Grammar School for Girls and Wilmington Grammar School for Boys celebrated excellent A-level results once again across the schools’ fully collaborative sixth form, WG6.

The joint sixth form is now in its third year of operation and results continue to improve year on year, with the majority of grades being at A*/ B grades and most students off study degrees at prestigious universities.

On the WGSG roll, Rebekah Greenbank is preparing to start her theology degree at Cambridge University having blitzed through the selection process in fine style.
Ciara Doyle will be donning her scrubs, as she prepares to undertake a degree in medicine at Leeds.

The boys did equally well, with James Rowley celebrating straight A* grades and accepting a place to study chemistry at Imperial and Chris Walton is to study mathematics at Exeter.
No less than 11 students obtained straight A*/A grades in their examinations at WGSG alone.

On the boys’ roll, celebrations were under way for Joe Blake who gained top grades in biology, chemistry and economics and will be heading to Southampton to study bio chemistry.

Jamie Peake was celebrating his top grades and preparing to take up economics at Nottingham University, whilst Charlotte Wardle will be studying economics at Kent.

Jude White may be the next entrepreneur to watch out for as he embarks on a degree in computer games arts at UCA and Matthew Pull will be putting his crop of A*/A grades to good use in his computing course at Imperial College.

Donna Lodge, who will be executive head teacher across both schools from September, was delighted with the results, especially after the ‘outstanding’ Ofsted grading obtained by the school earlier this year.

Andy Williamson, who has been head at WGSB for the last seven years was pleased to leave on such a high and added: “Whilst many of the Kent’s sibling grammar schools tend to be in competition with each other, I feel that these results and overall growth and success of WG6 illustrates that it is so much more beneficial for students when schools can pool together their resources, knowledge and expertise.

“I am delighted that the commitment to the initiative has paid off and to be celebrating the results that students have achieved.”

Geraldine Tiddy, the head of WG6 said: “I am very proud of the individual achievements of all our students and know just how much effort goes into turning predicted grades into actual results. I also know how much the students have enjoyed their time at WG6 and wish every one of them the best for their futures.”

Wilmington Girls Grammar

James Rowley, got A*s in biology, chemistry and maths and is off to study chemistry at Imperial College, London. He said: “I’m delighted with those results. I was confident coming out of the exam but I wasn’t sure I had done this well.

“I knew I had done OK but there is always that uncertainty in the back of your mind.

“My family are all scientists so it seems like the right choice to make. It’s got some maths in it as well so it makes sense.”

Maisie Hammond did English, history and sociology and also got three A*s. She will study English at Sussex. She said: “There was lots of hard work but I definitely wasn’t confident.

“It was nice just to forget about them for a while so it is definitely a big relief. English is one of the subjects I do best at and I really enjoy it as well and it really helps if you are enthusiastic about it.”

Rebekah Greenbank got two A* in philosophy and geography and A in physics. She said: “I was quite nervous today, it’s been a long wait. I’m looking forward to getting started at uni. I can’t wait.

“The modules that I had are really suited to my interest.”

Ciara Doyle got A*s in maths, biology and chemistry. She is studying medicine at Leeds.

She said: “I was delighted and really surprised. I was quietly confident but I did not expect that result. I thought the exams went kind of OK, there were a couple where I thought that was a really hard paper.

“Studying medicine I get to encounter such a massive range of people and make a difference to everyone’s life. I’m really looking forward to getting started. I can’t wait.”

Wilmington Boys’ Grammar

Grace McGrand studied sociology, PE and biology and got A, A, B. She will study midwifery at King’s College.

She said: “I’m happy with the results, I was so nervous coming in today. The biology exam I found tricky so I knew that one wasn’t going to be an A, but the others went really well.
“I’ve always been interested in midwifery, so I wanted to study it! I’m looking forward to getting started.”

Harry Mclean got straight As in economics, geography and maths and will take up a course in economics and finance at Exeter.

He said: “I got into my uni so getting the grades this morning didn’t really matter. It’s always hard to tell [how you’ve done in the exams].

When asked why he had chosen economics and finance, he said: “Hopefully there’s a lot of money when I’m older!”

Matthew Pull studied maths, further maths, electronics and system and control - he got three A*s and an A.

"The exams went quite well but I was still very nervous," he admitted.

He's now heading to Imperial to study computer science and is looking forward to getting started.

He added: "It's a course I really like and a university I really like."

If we are not visiting your school this morning and you would like us to cover your GCSE results instead, please email lmassey@thekmgroup.co.uk.