Joy and despair - thousands of nervous students
across Medway are finding out their
A-Level results today.

The agonising wait was finally over for almost 5,000 youngsters
as the all-important brown envelopes were ripped open this
morning.

At Kings School, Rochester, there was a 100 per
cent pass rate, with all 59 students planning to go on to
university.

"It is one of the best years we have had," said Kevin Jones,
headmaster of Kings' senior school.

Among the students to do exceptionally were triplets Bethany,
Giles and Eloise Penman who got a total of two A* and eight A
grades and plan to go to University College London to continue
their studies.

The Hundred of Hoo school - which has been
in special measures - had its best-ever results with 40.7 per cent
of the 94 students achieving A and B grades, and 98.4 per cent
getting passes.

Headmaster Kevin Mahon said: "It is a tribute to the work of the
teachers and the children, especially given our recent history. We
are performing more strongly as the months go by."

Last year was the best on record for the Rochester Math
School, but this year's results broke that record.

Four students are going to Cambridge to continue their
studies.

Headteacher Dr Gary Holden said: "These results confirm our
position as an outstanding school."

Students at Rochester Independent College were
celebrating a 90 per cent pass rate at grades A-C. The top
performer at the Star Hill school was 19-year-old Kenny
Siriwatwetchakul, who notched up five A*s - in physics, chemistry,
maths, further maths and statistics.

At Strood Academy, Raj Shergill and
Euleene Chikomo, both 18, were among the big winners. Raj, from
Brompton Farm Road, Strood, took home two As in public services and
a B in business studies. Euleene, also from Strood, got two As in
business and a B in law.

At Chatham Grammar School for Girls, in Rainham
Road, Rachel Patel, of Waterloo Road, Gillingham was delighted with
her results. She received an A* in health and social care, an
A in biology and psychology and a B in Chemistry.

Rainham Mark Grammar School achieved its
best-ever results, with 61 per cent students awarded As and
Bs. Among the best was Lauren Matthews, of Lovelace Close,
Parkwood. The 18-year-old ripped open her envelope to find she had
four A* grades - the results she desperately needed to get
into Cambridge University.

She said: "I'm completely elated. I was predicted four A*
grades, but because they have only just come in and there are
really specialist requirements to achieve them I wasn't sure if I
would get them. I was shaking when I opened the envelope. I'm
definitely going to be celebrating with my friends this
afternoon."

Medway Council's cabinet member for children's services Cllr Les
Wicks said: "Our students have worked incredibly hard this year and
I am sure their dedication will have paid off.

"I congratulate them for all their achievements. I'd also like
to congratulate our teachers for their hard work, which has helped
so many students achieve the results they deserve."

Medway's students who applied to
instiutions for further study but didn't make the grade will enter
the scramble for places under the clearing process.

The University of Kent, which has a campus at Chatham Maritime, has around 200 places available which will account for around eight per cent of its intake.

Last year, the university received over 3,000 clearing
applications and filled 355 places, around 10 per cent of its
intake, through the clearing process.

However, the University of Creative Arts has no places available through clearing.

Last year, 292 places were offered in clearing by and 168 people
accepted the offers. Its 1,834 places have already been taken.

Our reporters and photographers are out at selected schools
around Medway getting reaction from students and teachers.

Pick up a copy of Monday’s Medway Messenger for our full A-level
coverage, including pictures from across the Towns.

There will be more celebrations and commiserations on Tuesday
when the GCSE results come out, two days earlier than usual. We’ll
have full coverage in next Friday’s paper.

If you have an A-level success story to share with us, e-mail medwaymessenger@thekmgroup.co.uk or call the newsroom on 01634 227803.