It's the event thousands of teenagers have been waiting for - or dreading - A-level results day 2018.

Our reporters and photographers will be at schools across the county as pupils rip open that all-important envelope.

Top A levels can open the door to a good university or a secure job.

But those who haven't achieved the grades they expected can also get lots of help.

Childline is urging young people in Kent and Medway who are worried about their A-Level grades to get in touch and not suffer in silence.

In 2017/18, Childline nationally delivered 1,298 counselling sessions to children and teenagers apprehensive about their exam results and what they do next – a rise of 15% over the last year.

Concern peaked in August 2017, with just under a quarter of all counselling sessions being delivered during the month when GCSE and A-Level results are published.

Figures released by the NSPCC-supported service also showed that girls are much more willing to ask for help, receiving 74% of all counselling sessions delivered by Childline on this issue.

Another alternative to university is setting up on your own.

Entrepreneur Kathleen Saxton grew up in Gravesend and attended St John's Catholic School, before moving to London to pursue a career in the media industry.

In 2009, she founded headhunting firm, The Lighthouse Company, before launching Psyched Global, which brings psychotherapy into corporate boardrooms.

Kathleen is also co-founder of Advertising Week Europe, a guest speaker in schools and sits on the board of Childline - despite waiting until her 30s to attend university.

Kathleen said: “In the modern world that we now exist in, going from school straight into work is becoming the new cool.

“Learning from other professionals, earning money, finding your autonomy and experimenting with what you might wish to specialise in is a positive way forward.

“Degrees offer employers a level of certainty around basic academic understanding.

“However, those without degrees who show energy in extracurricular activities – whether it’s horse riding, a summer job or charitable projects – can give an insight into how they are wired and how they are driven, which is hugely valuable.

“My father always said, don’t be a coca cola bottle, be brave enough to be different.

“As someone who interviews more than 5,000 people a year, I want to know what you want me to remember you for five minutes after you have left - your heart and soul."

To see how your school or former school fared, follow our live blog, as results come in throughout the morning and beyond.

You can also follow us on Twitter using the hashtag #KentALevels2018