For pupils across Medway, the anxious wait for their results is over.

Hundreds have been tearing open envelopes to discover if they have been successful in gaining a place at university or landing a job.

The Medway Messenger visited schools across the Towns this morning to see how they got on.

Rochester Grammar School posted its best ever results with 87% of all grades at A*, A or B.

Four pupils are off to Oxford or Cambridge and six achieved three A* grades. They are Amber Christopher-Ward, Sam Harding-Miller, Kathryn Scott, Katie Sheridan, Kirstin Spry and Laura Watson.

Tearful Katrina Bicker, 18, of Orion Road, Rochester, celebrated an A* and two Bs with her mum Carol. She now plans to work for a year before starting a speech and language therapy course.

Carol said: "We were even planning dinners and I joked that what score she got would determine where we went. We won’t be going to McDonalds tonight!"

Principal Stuart Gardner said: "My challenge to those saying it’s been dumbed down is go back and do it again. You have only got to go into a school and see how hard the pupils work.

"My daughter is in Year 12 and she wants three As to go to medical school and she has worked every hour to get those grades."

Six pupils at Rochester Math School will be going to Oxbridge after their hard work produced fantastic results.

One of them is Jamie Law, who will now prepare himself to study physics at Oxford. He achieved four A*s in maths, further maths, physics and chemistry.

The 18-year-old said: "That was what I was hoping for. I wouldn’t have been happy with much less."

Another one of those celebrating was Matthew Brockwell. He also managed four A*s in the same subjects, and will be starting a degree in mathematics at Cambridge.

"I was a bit unsure because of the entrance exams. They were way more stressful than the others."

Overall, 34% of all grades awarded were either an A* or A. A total of 66% of student gained A* to B, the highest in the school’s history.

Head teacher Eliot Hodges said it was "another great year".

He said: "I am delighted for all our students and immensely proud of their achievements.

"It is days like today that make the hours of hard work from pupils and their teachers worth every moment."

Thomas Aveling School in Rochester celebrated a 99% overall pass rate.

Assistant head teacher Sally Whelan said this year’s results were the best yet for the school.

She said: "We’ve had 71% A* to C. We’ve bucked the trend again. We are absolutely over the moon, it’s a great achievement for the pupils and the school.

Terry Brown, chair of governors added: "The results are a real testament to staff and pupils. Their focus has been to ensure we make progress year on year."

Laura Delaney, 19, achieved an A* in photography which means she can now go to university in Portsmouth.

She said: "I was jumping up and down when I got the results. I will be moving to Portsmouth on September 14. My mum was crying this morning."

Also happy with his results was Kyle Kemp, 18, who said: "I only just scraped through my GCSEs so this is a great achievement for me. I will be going to UCA in Rochester, that’s where I wanted to go."

Jacky Zhu, 18, got distinction in IT and business and will now be able to go to the Queen Mary University in London.

He said: "When I saw my results, I thought I’m there, it’s great. I will study engineering and science, I want to find a good job afterwards in engineering.

Two years of hard studying paid off for pupils at King’s, Rochester.

Sam Hall, from Walderslade, is celebrating after securing a scholarship to the Royal College of Music where he will read Composition.

The 18-year-old achieved an A* and As in art, history of art and music.

"It is just amazing. I was incredibly nervous before I opened them, but now I just can’t believe it," he said.

"I had to double check my grades a few times and check it was the right name. I’m excited to be going to study at the Royal College of Music."

Ryan Forsdick, 18, from Frindsbury, netted two A*, one A and two Bs. He is now off to Exeter University to study physics.

"I’m feeling pretty good and I’m looking forward to going to university."

Richard McIntosh, 18, got two A*s and an A and is now off to Oxford University to study engineering science.

He said: "I’m pretty happy about it – it is a good feeling. I was just excited to open my results and get it over and done with in the end."

Principal Jeremy Walker said: "This has been another impressive year for our A-level results.

"Once again King’s has pupils heading off to Oxford and Cambridge as well as the top Russell Group universities and top specialist establishments like the Royal College of Music.

"My hearty congratulations go to all our hardworking students and their talented staff for such an impressive set of results today."