Thousands of pupils discovered their long-awaited GCSE results today. Here's a round-up of reactions from schools across Maidstone.

There was big cause for celebration at Oakwood Park Grammar School, which welcomed a 100% pass rate.

Of its 138 pupils 99% achieved at least five A* to C grades and 39 per cent achieved five or more A*s and As.

Top performers Robert Crawford and Christopher Johnson both swooped a clean sweep A*s - 12 each in total.

Robert said: “I am ecstatic. I thought I would do well but I wasn’t expecting this. I’m really pleased.”

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

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

Sarah Hunter achieved 12 A*s and As, she said :“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, Farhart Tasmin, Sophie Chase all achieved 12 A*s and As, while Sophie Aujard, Laura Hooker and Harriet Turner gained 11.

At Swadelands School, in Ham Lane, Lenham, 94% of pupils achieved at least five GCSEs.

Dasara Hadri achieved six A* and five A grades, Deon Nzou who gained two A*s and eight As, Merena Subba welcomed two A* and six A marks, and Tasnim Oladejo celebrated five A grades.

More youngsters than ever before achieved the English Baccalaureate.

More than 99% of pupils at Maidstone Grammar School, in Barton Road, achieved five or more A* to C grades, including mathematics and English, with 50% of all entries graded at A* or A, which is 2% up on last year.

Out of the 170 youngsters who sat the exams, 29 received six A*s or better, including. Padraig Cuffe, Lewis Fitness, Ben Gosling and John Hudson, who gained at least 10 A* grades.

Students at Valley Park School celebrated a record breaking set of GCSE results, with 65% of student achieving five A* to C grades including English and maths.

In total 60 student achieving at least 5A* to A grades.

Among the star students were Ben Anderton, Craig Barden, Alisha Bell, Louis Broad, Phoebe Collins, Charlotte Maxwell, Matthew Porter, Olivia Rossiter-Langworthy, Cynthia Royer, who all achieved at least 8 A* grades.

Jack Bisson, 16, from Bearsted,who got two distinctions in BTECs in sport and engineering, a merit in ICT and five Cs and an E said: “I got the grades I expected and now I hope to carry on sports and engineering at sixth form. I’m happy with how well I did.”

All of the 178 students which sat exams at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls passed their GCSEs, with 99% achieving five or more A* to C grades including English and maths.

Among the outstanding students were Melissa Seabrook and Eleanor Swan who gained A*s in all 12 GCSES and an A grade at AS level.

Melissa, 16, from West Malling said:“I wasn’t expecting those results at all. I couldn’t believe it. My parents are really pleased. It’s my dad’s birthday today so there’s even more reason to celebrate.”

For the third year running the St Augustine Academy in Oakwood Park celebrated an increase in the number of five A* to C grades.

The school’s top performer was Sam Shahabi, who gained 12 A* to A grades.

Daniel Hake was delighted with his grades, he scooped three distinction stars in Art, business and IT.

He said: “I am really, really happy. I couldn’t sleep at all last night I was really nervous. I put in the work, I put in the effort and I’ve come out strong.”

Half of the pupils who sat GCSEs at Cornwallis Academy in Hubbards Lane, Linton, gained five A* to C grades, including English and mathematics.

There was a 7% increase in the number of youngsters who achieved the gold standard in the English Baccalaureate qualification.

Principal, David Simons, said: “We are delighted to have achieved our best ever English results this year at 76% and more students than ever achieving the top grades across all subjects."

New Line Learning Academy, in Boughton Lane, Loose, has celebrated its first ever A*s in mathematics since it opened in 2010.

Three pupils achieved the top mark in the subject. Staff saw an 11% rise in the number of pupils who achieved A* to C grades in English and a 10% higher pass rate for mathematics.

Principal, David Elliott said: "We look forward to welcoming back many of the students as they stay continue their learning journey into the ?Sixth Form."

Sutton Valence School, in North Street, achieved a 100% pass rate with 90% of the 84 pupils achieving five or more A* to C, including English and mathematics.

Out of all the exams sat, 19% were awarded the top mark and 11% welcomed 11 A* or A grades or more, including Sasha van Diepen from Harrietsham; Freddie Nelson from Loose; Katherine McKeating from Kings Hill; Tom Brunt from East Farleigh and Joanne Amos from Cranbrook.

At St Simon Stock Catholic School, in Oakwood Park, 186 pupils sat the exams - the school’s largest year to date - with 87% gaining at least five GCSEs, including English and Maths.

Jack Barnes achieved eight A*s and one A, while classmates Amy Dowd, Anureena D’Costs, Holly Davey welcomed scored six A*s each.