Teenagers' futures are being decided today... as they opened the crucial envelope that reveals their A-level results.

Thousands of students across the county nervously headed to schools to find out if their grades were better or worse than expected.

Our live coverage is below - but you can still send us your news and pictures by emailing news@thekmgroup.co.uk.

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1pm

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

12.45pm

Top A-level students at Hartsdown Academy in Margate included Yasmine Si Mohammed, 18, who gained three A grades; Dmytro Lysak, 18, who gained three A levels including an A pass in engineering and he intends to study, Tyler Davis, who gained a B and D pass A level equivalent in his Thanet Football Academy course.

Harry Arnold also celebrated three A-levels in engineering, finance and IT; Rebecca Scargill and Hannah Messenger who both achieved two A-levels including an A in travel and tourism each; and Emma-Jayne Chadwick, who was one of Margate's torch-bearers in the 2012 Olympics, who passed four A-levels and who is now taking an apprenticeship to become a child minder.

Vice principal Amanda Lee said: "Our students have shown that hard work coupled with terrific support from their teachers and families pays and they can now move on to the next step of their education with confidence."

12.25pm

Pupils at Cranbrook School pose after collecting their outstanding results.

From left, Katie Webster, 18, from Staplehurst, was pleased with her 2A*s and 2 As. She is off to drama school.

Rosie Wakefield, 18, from Rolvenden, gained three Bs and is going to become a primary school teacher.

Jack Bull, 17, from Hawkhurst, got four Bs and an A* and already has a job lined up at JP Morgan.

Grace Foley, 18, from Cranbrook, gained an A and two Bs and is off to Birmingham University.

Olivia Chapman, 18 , from Goudhurst, gained 2As and a B, and is off to study art.

12.10pm

Staff and students at Towers School, in Ashford, were delighted with their results - which have broke records for the fifth consecutive year.

The school saw a 100% pass rate across the board, with 40% of students achieving A* to B grades in all subjects.

Greg Szubert, 19, from Hothfield, received a A C C in Maths, Chemistry and Biology and now plans to study Maths at the University of Sussex.

He said: "I'm feeling really happy. I got my place at university, so I'm ecstatic."

David Leddington, head of Sixth Form, said: "These record breaking outcomes are the result of extremely hard work by our students and staff. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and commitments."

11.55am

Najib Khan, who fled a warzone in Afghanistan with his family, was one of the top performers at Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey.

The 18-year-old managed to get three distinctions in his science BTEC courses.

He also achieved a D in his English literature A-level despite not speaking a word of the language when he came to this country four years ago.

11.40am

The only secondary school on the Isle of Sheppey is celebrating a big improvement in A-level results.

Pupils at Oasis Academy achieved a pass rate of 98%, which is an improvement on 82% last year.

At AS level, the number of pupils securing five A to E grades has risen by 24%.

A-level students celebrate at Oasis Academy on Sheppey. Video: Lewis Dyson

11.25am

Reporter Bess Browning's earlier picture of male Faversham A-level students jumping for joy - in an apparent parody of the traditional shot of girls celebrating - is proving popular among readers. Can you do better?

11.15am

The University of Greenwich - which has a campus in Medway - has told us clearing hotlines opened at 7am today.

By 10am, staff had taken 1,100 calls from school and college leavers with their results seeking a place on a degree course.

This is 10% up on the same three hours last year and the busiest ever.

11am

And here's some video of the moment students at Oakwood Park Grammar School, in Maidstone, picked up their results today - and then celebrated with friends.

Oakwood Park Grammar School. Video: James Walker

10.50am

Rufus Murray Evans was among the top performers at Oakwood Park Grammar School, off Tonbridge Road in Maidstone.

He scooped the equivalent of three A*s in history, literature and philosophy and theology. He also achieved an A government and politics.

He will go to University College Oxford to study history and said: "I'm really happy with what I've got - it's a bit of a surprise. I'm looking forward to uni now."

Jessica Moss and Casey Whiting from the neighbouring St Augustine Academy were also thrilled with their results.

Jessica studied psychology, sociology and English literature and earned the grades needed to study psychology at Anglia Ruskin University.

Casey plans to study creative writing and journalism at De Montfort University in Leicester after studying philosophy, psychology and English literature.

10.40am

Tears of joy were flowing at Highworth Grammar School in Ashford, where friends Hannah Royal, Gemma Albin, Willow Fox, Laine Caruzca and Beth Munns were celebrating their results.

Willow, who got A* in biology, chemistry and maths, is off to study medicine at Oxford.

She said: "I was hoping to get three As but this is such a shock. My mum was crying. Within five minutes she had told everyone, even her gym trainer!"

10.35am

Pupils and staff at Aylesford School - Sports College, in Teapot Lane, are celebrating excellent results with 100% of all exam entries graded at A* to C.

Overall, 36% were marked at the top score. Sally Doran, head of sixth form, said she is delighted.

She said: "These results are a reflection of the hard work of staff and students and are richly deserved.

"We are very proud of what has been achieved and the range of courses at universities across the country that students from Aylesford School – Sports College will be starting next month."

10.25am

We've just pulled together video sent to us from reporter Claire McWethy at St Simon Stock Catholic School in Maidstone. Can you spot yourself?

Students open their A-level results at St Simon Stock in Maidstone. Video: Claire McWethy

10.15am

Students at Mayfield Grammar School in Gravesend have been telling us about their exam success.

Kirendeep Dosanjh, 18, got three As in biology, chemistry and psychology and is going to study medicine at the University of East Anglia as she hopes to become a doctor.

She said: "I'm very happy that I got into my first choice."

Maria Gemmell, 18, got an A* in history, A in psychology and B in biology. She is going to study primary education in Winchester. She planned to go out with her friends to celebrate.

"I'm really in shock," she said. "My predictions were only A, B, B."

Jodie Yates got two A*s in English literature and government and politics as well as two Bs in French and theatre studies and is off to Leeds University to study English and French.

The 18-year-old said: "I'm going to a pub quiz tonight and celebrate with the rest of my school friends."

10am

Pupils are jumping for joy after collecting their results from Queen Elizabeth's Grammar in Faversham.

9.45am

At Dartford Grammar School for Girls, 75% of grades were at A* to B - with 45% at A* and A.

And for the seventh year running, every subject secured a 100% pass rate.

9.35am

Reporter James Walker has taken this video of students opening their results at Maidstone Grammar School this morning. There are lots of happy faces...

A-levels results being collected at Maidstone Grammar School. Video: James Walker

9.30am

We've just heard the overall pass rate for A-levels has fallen for the first time in 32 years.

As many as 98% of students achieved grades A* to E - down 0.1%.

But, more A-level candidates got the very highest grade this year. The proportion of A* grades rose 8.2%.

And boys out-performed girls at the top grade for the third year running.

9.20am

It looks like celebrations are already in full swing at MidKent College...

9.15am

St Simon Stock Catholic School students Amy Griffiths, from Barming, and Phil Coatsworth, from near Penenden Heath, both 18, have been sharing their results.

Amy got an A* in maths as well as As in further maths and french. She is going to Exeter to study maths and French.

Phil got an A* in maths, an A in chemistry and B in pyschology. He is going to Bristol to study chemistry.

Amy said: "I was really nervous because these results are the first ones we've had that really do determine what you do next, but the stress was taken away by the sixth form which was with us every step of the way."

The Maidstone school had 66% of entries at grade C and above.

9.05am

More than 600 students from across three secondary schools in Leigh Academies Trust received AS/A Level results this year.

The Leigh Academy, Longfield Academy and Wilmington Academy produced between them one-third of all A Level grades at A*-A, with a pass rate of nearly 100%. Record numbers of students have also secured places at top universities.

Chief executive Simon Beamish said: "The power of academies working together in a close family is demonstrated by these excellent results. Enormous credit should go to students, staff and parents for their tremendous dedication to ensuring the best academic outcomes."

8.55am

A university is advising students getting their A-level results to choose a degree related to industries hunting for skilled workers.

The University of Greenwich in Medway has revealed those areas where demand for workers is growing. Click here to read more.

8.30am

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 #kentalevels on Twitter or email news@thekmgroup.co.uk.

8.20am

Harry Butcher and Sebastian Hunter both got 4 A*s at Maidstone Grammar School.

Harry got 300/300 in physics and other top grades in maths, further maths and history. He's going to study engineering at Cambridge.

Sebastian got A*s in physics, maths, further maths and chemistry. He will study chemical engineering at Cambridge.

Sebastian said: "I was really nervous last night but found out at 7.30 this morning how well I got the grades, which was a relief. Now I'm going to take it easy."

8.15am

There is likely to be a record number of people being accepted into universities after today's A-level results.

An extra 30,000 places are on offer because the government's lifted a cap on places.

8.10am

Congratulations to Matt Harrison, who's won a place at Pembroke College in Cambridge.

Share your success - and your selfies - with us using the hashtag #kentalevels or email news@thekmgroup.co.uk.

8am

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

It could be the start of a great future, but don't despair if you don't get the results you expected.

There are plenty of chances to secure a place through clearing. Click here the advice of admissions bosses at Kent universities.