Just a week after A-level students collected their results, it's now time for GCSEs.

Pupils from across Thanet will be heading into school this morning to find out how they did in their exams.

But it's not just GCSE results which are out today - those who chose BTEC options will also be picking up that important envelope.

These young people will then begin a new chapter of their lives, either at sixth form, college or on a work training scheme.

King Ethelbert School, Birchington

It's been another excellent year for the school with pupils and teachers celebrating the results with success across the board making it one the county's best non-selective schools.

Nearly half of all Year 11 achieved passes in both English and maths with 60% achieving passes in English and 60% making the grade in maths.

Top performers included James Protopapas (nine passes with grades 9-6), Corey Austin (eight excellent passes at grades 9-6), Oliver Playford (nine excellent passes, with five at grades 9-7) and Jesse Lin (nine excellent passes with six at grades 9-6 including two grade 8s).

Headteacher Kate Greig said: "These are fantastic results and we are enormously proud or our students. We have brilliant staff who work so hard to ensure the students achieve the best possible grades they can but the students deserve the real praise for working so hard and for showing real resilience and determination."

Vicky Willis, head of school added the majority of pupils had gained their first choice places for study in September.

St Lawrence College, Ramsgate

Pupils picked up a top set of results for the school with 32% achieving grade 9s or 8s (A* and A equivalent). Almost two thirds of the college's Year 11s achieved a B-grade equivalent.

Parents and friends joined classmates and teachers to collect results and celebrated with the staff.

Olivia Binfield, who has been at St Lawrence since starting in the nursery, gained an outstanding set of grades with six 9s, two 8s and two 7s.

She was nervous to come in and collect her envelope and was up from 3am waiting for school to open.

"I wanted to wait to come in to the school to get them in person rather than checking online. I am so pleased as it means I can go on to do sciences and English in the sixth form so I can hopefully achieve my dream of becoming a zoologist."

Principal Antony Spencer said: "I’m particularly pleased that this high performance was across the ability range, with the overall pass rate increasing by 2% to 91%, and over two-thirds of all pupils gaining at least one grade 7 or above."

Mr Spencer added he was pleased to see good performance in science after opening new facilities at the Canon Perfect Centre.

Charles Dickens School, Broadstairs

There was a "significant increase" of pupils achieving the top grades this year including in some of the most challenging subjects such as English and history.

GCSE results were matched with success for pupils taking BTEC qualifications with good results in dance, music, sport and travel and tourism.

Dana Reed picked up a 9 in history and four grade 7s, Daisy Kennedy achieved two grade 8s in art and design and technology, Adrien Colyer gained grade 8 in English literature and three grade 7s while Freya Greenhalgh achieved grade 8 in art and three grade 7s.

Head teacher Warren Smith said: "There have been some exceptional individual performances. It is well documented that these qualifications are more rigorous than those they replaced and these outcomes are the product of absolute dedication from students and expert guidance from staff."

Dane Court Grammar School

A total of 11% of all entries were graded at 9, the very highest grade, and 46% at 9-7, equivalent to the old A* and A grades. 20 students gained grades 9-7 in all of their subjects and 85% secured a strong pass in both English and mathematics.

Individual performances included Divya Agrawal with nine grade 9s, as well as the top grade in further mathematics; Zara Ahmed secured eight 9s, one 8 and an A*.

Assistant head teacher Rachel Rolls said: “We’re incredibly proud of all the hard work that our students have put into their studies. They’ve been a pleasure to teach and we look forward to welcoming them back for the IB in September.”

Head of school Martin Jones said: “These fantastic grades are the direct result of the students’ hard work and determination as well as excellent support from their families.

"I’m sure that the students would like to join me in thanking all of their teachers for their dedication and guidance over the last five years.”

Hartsdown Academy, Margate

The school is celebrating its best ever set of combined exam results - following on from record breaking results by sixth form students in their International Baccalaureate results last week.

Pupils achieved another impressive set of results as the school recorded GCSE improvements for a successive year.

Head teacher Matt Tate said he was pleased with showing 30% improvement in English and maths compared to 2018 and the school's results have gone up by 42% in the last two years.

Speaking to KentOnline, aspiring lawyer Elizabeth Pottinger said she was delighted with her results especially after picking up unexpected grade 7s in science and maths.

Head of key stage 4, Charlotte Rigden, said: "It has been a fantastic two years working with this group of dedicated and aspirational young people. The Year 11 staff and I are delighted to be able to celebrate with our students after another increase in GCSE results.”

Mr Tate added: "This has been a fantastic year for Hartsdown Academy. We are celebrating our best ever year for results.

"Our GCSE students have done themselves and the school proud. We are delighted to have so many students gaining top grades and over double the amount of students wanting to stay with us for Sixth Form

"This, combined with the opening our brand-new, state of the art building, means that the future for both the school and these Year 11s is a bright and prosperous one."

Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School, Ramsgate

Nearly a quarter of pupils gained top grades in a fantastic set of results for the school.

The school's pass rate was incredibly high at 91% of all pupils achieving at least grade 4 and 34 pupils gained eight or more GCSEs with top grades.

Stand out achievers included Pavel Liwoski who gained eight grade 9s, two grade 8s an A* and an A, Shiam Srikumar with eight grade 9s, one grade 8, one grade 7 and an A.

Sophia Pegden collected results of eight grade 9s, two grade 8s and one A. There were also great results by Nicole McCorry, Millie Mileham, Melissa Palmer, Tom Piggott, Emily Baker and Daniel Gomez Da Costa.

Head teacher Debra Liddicoat said: "Despite changes to GCSE’s over the past couple of years to make them more rigorous, it is evident from these results that our students have risen to the challenge and their hard work has paid off; they should be rightly proud of their achievements.

"Staff are also to be congratulated on the hard work, support and encouragement they have provided to students over the past two years to help them gain these results."

Royal Harbour Academy, Ramsgate

A total of 40% of students gained a Level 4 or better in English and 36% secured a Level 4 or better in maths.

Head teacher Simon Pullen was pleased with how Year 11 performed.

He said: “Against a background of more difficult exams it is good to see so many students doing so well. I am particularly pleased with the number of Grade 9 and 8 students have received showing that the school can provide for the most able students.”

Yasmin Gill secured 10 GCSE passes including two 9s and an 8. Cassie O’Connor gained nine GCSE passes including two 9 grades and Lily Headley passed 9 GCSEs with one 9 and six 8s.

Mickey Capeling, head of Year 11 said, “Year 11 students have worked incredibly hard to achieve their goals and it is a pleasure to see so many of them going on to their chosen destinations including the sixth form at Royal Harbour Academy.”

Numbered grading system

More GCSE subjects are being graded using the number system this year, with 9 being the top score and 1 the lowest.

This has been phased in since 2017 to replace the previous A* to G grades.

Starting with English and maths, the new number system is now being used for almost all GCSE subjects.

Emma Jo will be on kmfm's The Hit List from 7pm tonight for a special GCSE Results Surgery.

Students from Canterbury College and Broadstairs College, as well as experts and careers advisers will be discussing what options are available to those picking up their results today.

To see how pupils in other parts of Kent did, head to our county-wide live blog

News from our universities, local primary and secondary schools including Ofsted inspections and league tables can be found here

Read more: All the latest news from Thanet