It was celebrations all round as students from schools across Maidstone, Malling and the Weald opened record-breaking GCSE results.

Valley Park School in Huntsman Lane, Maidstone, saw 94% of students gaining five or more A* to C grades.

The school broke its 50% barrier for those receiving five A* to C passes including English and maths for the first time – a 6% increase on last year’s figure.

Some 80% of students in years 10 and 11 at New Line Learning Academy in Boughton Lane, Maidstone, (NLL) gained five or more GCSEs grade C or above, with 19% gaining three or more A* to A grades.

At Swadelands School in Ham Lane, Lenham, the school smashed its previous record, with 55% of students gaining five A* to C grades including Maths and English, and 87% achieving five A* to C grades overall.

And it was a special set of results at Astor of Hever school - the last set before the school becomes the St Augustine Academy next term.

It saw 92.4% of students getting five A*to C grades, with star performers including Harry Alston (6 A* 3A, 3B), Farhana Choudury (8 A*, 3A & 4B) and Tariq Moore (5A).

Kent County Council say this year’s GCSE results for Kent’s secondary schools are the best ever, with a record-breaking number of pupils getting five or more good passes.

Education chiefs estimate 62% of pupils had secured five or more GCSEs including maths and English - the government’s preferred benchmark.

For a full round up see the Kent Messenger, August 26 edition.