Trust bosses at a combined sixth form are celebrating a 97% pass rate in this year's A-levels – 41% of them at A-C.

The 124 students who attended Chatham's Greenacre Academy and Walderslade Girls' School (WGS) received the all-important marks today.

At Greenacre, notable successes included: Dylan Addison (A-A-B), Jack Prendergast (C-A-Dist*), Josh Wood (B-Dist-Dist) and Louie Ralph (Dist-Dist*-Dist-B).

The Skills for Life Trust describes the overall results as "record breaking".

The youngsters join thousands of others across Kent in getting their results having endured months of home schooling and cancelled exams.

Because of the pandemic, this year's candidates are relying on teachers' assessment to determine their grades – ad GCSE pupils did last summer.

Greenacre student Jonnie Carroll said: “During the last year it was very challenging for all of us, lockdown was difficult and I didn’t enjoy being isolated.

"I was lucky to have a lot of support from friends, family and the school.”

Fellow learner Dylan Addison, who studied criminology and sociology, said: “Lockdown motivated me more, it made me more determined as everything was going against me.

"I received support from everyone and I was reliant on being pushed by the school so had to grow up quite quickly.”

WGS student Olivia Barlow achieved double distinction merit in BTEC applied science, B in psychology and A in criminology and is going to Greenwich University to study forensic science.

Responding to her A in English literature/language, B in sociology and distinction* in media studies, Emily Arney said: “I worked hard…revised quite a lot. I was hoping it went well, but I didn’t think it’d go this well.”

Her experience was hard due to online learning – she didn’t have a laptop or computer at home, but the school equipped her with one during lockdown.

Greenacre head Shelly Bridger said: “Our sixth formers have shown great strength of character and self-discipline as they continued their studies during the lockdown periods.

"Their A-level results are the culmination of their education as part of the trust, which has been preparing them for the young adults they have become.

"This extraordinarily difficult period has not dampened their spirits or determination to do well and the results reflect this."

Ewa Eddy, newly-appointed as head of WGS, added: “It has been year and a half like never before, our A-level students have spent almost all of their time studying under the restrictions.

"The resilience they have shown is truly impressive as they have had to contend with every part of their life being affected.

"We are so proud of how they have faced this journey given the number of unknowns they have been facing during their time in sixth form."

Staff at the private King's school in Rochester saw 42% of all results graded A* to A, 62% at A* to B and 82% at A* to C.

Sohrab Worsley achieved three A* grades in maths, biology and chemistry and will be going to the University of Sussex to read medicine.

Louise Billingsley-Griffin, who received two A*s and two As in maths, further maths, chemistry and Latin, will be going to the University of Bath to read chemistry.

Adam Snelling – one of the school’s scholars and a full bursary-holder – achieved 4 A* grades in maths, further maths, economics and physics.

He is moving to Imperial College to read mathematics having arrived at King’s four years ago from Ghana.

Two young musicians off to conservatoires: Joshua Dickin, who studied religious studies, music and politics will start at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama while Christian Blandford, who studied art, computer science and music is heading to Leeds Conservatoire to read music for film.

Maili Cumming, who achieved three A* grades in art, classics and history is going to Edinburgh University to read animation.

Emily-Jane Godden, who studied art, economics and maths achieving 2 A* and an A, is going to the University of Bath to read economics.

Phoebe Relf, who achieved A* and 3 As in English literature, government and politics and religious studies, is off to Bath to read social policy.

Tom Fox – B, B, C in geography, PE and economics – has secured an apprenticeship with Morgan Stanley.

Archie Caithness, who has just completed a fundraising cycle journey from Kent to Inverness, achieved two A*s, A, B, and is going to St Andrews to read psychology.

Principal Ben Charles said: "I am enormously proud of the pupils and their results achieved today.

"They have been through so much disruption throughout the whole of their sixth-form experience, but have shown huge resilience, character and support for each other as they have navigated their way through the Covid crisis.

"The results they have achieved are richly deserved and behind each grade is an individual story which no-one, other than the pupils themselves, could possibly imagine. I am also extraordinarily grateful to the teaching staff for their determination, adaptability and stamina in supporting the pupils through the last two years."

At Rochester Grammar School, the subjects of economics and further maths saw 50% of students achieve an A*.

Notable student successes included John Adeyemi who achieved four A*s in biology, chemistry, maths and further maths and has secured a place to study chemical engineering at Imperial College London.

Leena Maulvi achieved three A*s in maths, chemistry and computer science and intends to study computer science at King’s College London.

Victoria Greer, Samuel Gosling, Bronwyn Johnston, Isabel Coen, Niamh McLaughlin, Aeryn Ralph, Eleanor Masters and Amy Lyons all successfully achieved three A*s and have secured places at some of the top universities in the country.

Head teacher Clare Brinklow said: “I am incredibly proud of our students. They have worked so hard over the last two years and faced all the challenges of the pandemic in their stride.

“We are excited to see what the future holds for them and would like to say a huge thank you to all our students, parents, carers, staff and local community for your support and encouragement.”

Students from The Victory Academy are now preparing to head off to university, an apprenticeship or a job of their choice.

The academy saw particular success in biology, performing arts, sport, religious studies and product design.

Among those celebrating was Lucy Martin who achieved A*A*A in biology, mathematics and chemistry and has secured her place to study medicine at the University of Southampton.

Rigona Gjinovci achieved AAA in art, religious studies and sociology and has secured a place to study international relations at the London School of Economics.

Christianah Obajuwon achieved A*AAA in law, history, sociology and the Extended Project Qualification and has secured a place to study European and International Law at the University of Sheffield.

Jason Constant achieved A*AB in sociology, applied criminology and history and an A* in the Extended Project Qualification and has secured a place to study accounting and finance at the University of Leeds.

Principal Michelle Smith said: “I am incredibly proud of our students. They have worked extremely hard over the last two years and have taken all the extra challenges of the pandemic in their stride."

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