The wait is over for teenagers across Kent and Medway after they discovered their GCSE results today.

Thousands of pupils have opened the crucial envelopes in the hope of high-scoring grades.

Our live coverage from around the county is now over, but you can catch up below - and still send us your news and pictures by emailing news@thekmgroup.co.uk.

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12.45pm

Right, we're finishing up our live GCSE coverage. But you can still send us results and pictures by emailing news@thekmgroup.co.uk.

12.30pm

Twins Amber and Jade Groves will be educated separately for the first time in September after picking up GCSE results.

The pair, pictured with friend Reece Buckle, have been studying together at Towers School in Ashford.

But Amber is going to Highworth Grammar School, Ashford, to take sociology and RE - while Jade will head to the University for the Creative Arts. "It will be weird," said Amber.

12.15pm

Students at The Rochester Grammar School were celebrating another year of outstanding results.

An impressive 69% of all grades were at A* or A grade - and 100% of pupils attained five A* to C with English and maths.

One-in-five students secured A* and A grades across the board and four-out-of-five students achieved five A* and A grades or more.

Principal Gwynn Bassan said: "I am very proud of our students' performance in their examinations and I wish to congratulate them for their outstanding achievements."

12pm

Isle of Sheppey GCSE students have seen a drop in numbers achieving the national benchmark of A* to C grades – but the man in charge has defended the results, saying it's down to changes in the education system.

Executive principal of the Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey David Millar said the school has performed better than predicted.

The 345 pupils who sat their exams this year opened their envelopes at the east site in Minster Road, Minster.

Of those, 111 (32.2%) gained at least five A* - Cs including English and maths – a 5% drop from 2013.

But Mr Millar said because of a number of changes, it's not a like-for-like comparison.

The number achieving five A* - C in any subject was 268 (78%); while 314 (91%) gained five A* - G grades. A total of 182 teenagers (53%) got A* - C in English.

High achievers at the academy this year included 16-year-old Georgina Sherriff, from Minster. She achieved 12 A*s, A and B grades - including a starred distinction in music.

11.45am

Here's Cllr Margaret Crabtree, Kent County Council's deputy cabinet member for education, visiting Gravesend pupils this morning.

She met GCSE students at Thamesview School, where staff were celebrating record results.

11.30am

We've put together a video of footage taken by our reporters at schools across the county. Can you see yourself?

Video: Pupils across Kent pick up GCSE results

11.15am

A near-perfect 99% of pupils at Wilmington Grammar achieved five or more A* to C GCSEs.

Twenty students achieved 10 or more A* to A grades. Top flier Debo Adebola achieved eight A*s and four As, Jamie Peake six A*s and five As, Matthew Bell and Nathan Miller both achieved five A*s and six A grades, and David Bevis four A*s and six A grades.

Thomas Hemmings achieved three A*s and seven As, while friend Harry Mclean achieved one A*, seven As, two Bs and two Cs.

11am

Ashford's Highworth Grammar School student Ivy Manning has a dozen reasons to celebrate after achieving an astonishing 12 A*s.

The 16-year-old, from Rye, took maths, design technology, statistics, religious studies, history, French, biology, English literature and language, chemistry, physics and geography at GCSE.

She said: "I'm feeling really happy. I got the grades I wanted and now plan to stay at Highworth to study English, history, maths and politics at A-Level."

10.45am

At Gravesend Grammar School, 16-year-old Sohail Ahmed got 8 A*s and two As. He is planning on staying on into the sixth form.

He said: "I'm happy with my results. I wasn't really expecting this but I had a feeling. It didn't stop the worry though."

Nathan Wenban, 16, got two A*s, five As and a B, with one of the A*s in additional maths.

He said: "I'm very pleased with my results. I didn't expect to get A in English and I got one in language and literature."

10.35am

Here's how they're celebrating best-ever results at the Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone this morning.

10.25am

Friends Kate Hawkins and Kirsty McCann joined the A list at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Faversham.

Kate, who achieved 15 A*s and As, and Kirsty, who got 12 A*s and 2 As, were among those pictured celebrating with head teacher David Anderson.

10.10am

Maidstone's Invicta Grammar School, in Huntsman Lane, celebrated a total of 1,130 A* and A grades across the board.

Out of a cohort of 166 pupils, 100% received A* to Cs - with 55% marked as the top two marks.

More than 16 youngsters opened straight A*s and As. Thirty-percent of the year secured 10 or more of the highest grades.

Sarah Hunter, who achieved 12 A*s and As, said: "I am absolutely thrilled with my results. I cannot believe it. My teachers all said that I would do well, but now it is a reality, I am so excited and proud to be an Invicta student. I can't believe it. I'm just so happy and proud of myself."

Other pupils who celebrated a clean sweep of top marks included Catherine Lincoln, Sophie Aujard, Harriet Turner, Farhart Tasmin, Sophie Chase all achieved 12 A*s and As, while Sophie Aujard, Laura Hooker and Harriet Turner gained 11.

Head teacher Julie Derrick said: "We are exceptionally proud of our students and staff.

"Their results are testament to their dedication and commitment in a time when we have huge changes in educational reform, with moving grade boundaries and substantially more rigour."

9.55am

Friends at Oakwood Park Grammar School in Maidstone were jumping for joy after picking up their results this morning.

9.45am

Friends Jasmin Major, Eleanor Swan and Melissa Seabrook swept the board with As and A*s in their GCSEs.

They were among those at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls to get top results. The overall pass mark was 60% achieiving A* and A, rising to 98% for A* to C.

Melissa Seabrook, 16, from West Malling, said: "It's my dad's birthday today so now we have even more reason to celebrate."

9.30am

We've just been told the overall GCSE pass rate has fallen for the second year in a row.

A total of 98.5% of entries received an A* to G grade - down from 98.8% in 2013.

But more exams were awarded at least a C this year - and there was a significant improvement in maths results.

Experts think it might be because in England, only a student's first attempt at an exam now counts in school league tables - meaning fewer teenagers are taking maths early.

9.20am

Are these Kent's most successful GCSE pupils?

Robert Crawford and Christopher Johnson, from Oakwood Park Grammar School, got an astonishing 12 A*s each.

Twenty-two of their classmates earned at least 10 A* or A grades. Daniel Harries took home nine A*s - while Jason Dawson, Ellis Hill and Jack Slater all welcomed eight A*s.

Head teacher Kevin Moody said: "I am very pleased for all our students who have achieved a pleasing set of results against a backdrop of major and significant changes to the examination system. Well done to them and to their teachers and their parents for all their support in the process."

Robert will stay at the Maidstone school to study English literature, history, philosophy and classics at A-level.

9.10am

The High Weald Academy is celebrating strong results in the core subjects of English, maths and science, with 63%, 64% and 69% A*-C grades respectively.

In total, 53% of students achieved five or more A*- C GCSE grades, including English and maths - an increase of nearly 20% on last year.

Top performers from the academy included Jodie Farris, who gained 3 A*s, 5 As and 2 Distinction*, and Annie Shand, who gained a A* and 5 As.

Outgoing principal Robert Jackson said: "I am so proud each individual student and I am delighted that the results the young people have actually achieved will pave the way for their future studies and careers."

8.45am

Our reporters and photographers are on their way to schools across the county to cover the big day.

Look out for them - and send any pictures and results you'd like us to share using the hashtag #kentgcses on Twitter or email news@thekmgroup.co.uk.

8.30am

Katie Knights is among those sending good luck messages for GCSE pupils today. Send us yours using #kentgcses on Twitter or leave a comment below.

8.20am

We've got our first results in from the Hayesbrook School in Tonbridge, where more than 50% of pupils achieved five A* to C grades - including English and maths.

Leading the way with top grades were Osher Beveridge, Paul Crisp, Nicholas Garaty, William Lydden, Callum Porritt and Robbie Rickard who all achieved four grade A or A* awards.

Principal David Day said: "I congratulate the students on their achievements, many of whom have exceeded their targets.

"Against a backdrop of national fluctuation we are pleased that Hayesbrook students have posted over 100 GCSE A grades or BTEC distinctions. This shows the high level of individual achievements from our students and paves the way for successful sixth form."

8.10am

There are worries that reforms to GCSEs could affect this year's school league tables in some areas.

Teaching unions are worried about "volatile" results for some schools in England where the tests have been altered.

In many cases, the old module system has been replaced with end-of-course exams.

8am

It's GCSEs Day! All the best to everyone who's receiving their results today.

It could be the start of a great future, but don't despair if you don't get the results you need for A-levels or college - there are always other options!

Hopefully you'll be celebrating like these teenagers from last year...