The wait is finally over as thousands of teenagers across Ashford have been finding out their all-important A-level grades.

Our team of reporters and photographers are at schools across the district to capture the joy, excitement and occasional disappointment of results day.

Highworth Grammar School

Students at Highworth Grammar School were smiling from ear to ear this morning.

Overall the school, in Quantock Drive, saw 35% of students achieving only A*- A grades and 64% getting A*-B grades.

Ninety per cent of the Year 13 students are now planning to go to university, with three going to Cambridge and one to Oxford.

Head of sixth form, Susan Welch said: "The A2 results were fantastic. We are really pleased."

Eighteen-year-old Alex Valentine said she was "really happy" with her A8 and two As for religious studies, politics and history.

She will now study her favourite subject, history, at the University of York.

Smart Hollie Freeman, 18, from Kennington, now plans to study law at Durham University after achieving two A*s and one A for English literature, Spanish and history.

She said: "I'm feeling really excited."

Olivia Burt, 18, achieved 3 A* grades in maths , further maths and physics.

She will go to Imperial College in London to study physics, and hopes to be a researcher after graduating.

She said : "I did a lot better than I expected. My mum screamed when I opened my results."

Beverley Southern, 18, received ABC grades in religious studies, media and photography.

She has already embarked on an 18 month apprenticeship at PR company Quantum PR.

The Towers School

Towers School Principal Richard Billings said this year more students than ever had got into their first choice university.

He added: "In fact, I don't know one who hasn't got their first choice.

"We are particularly pleased with the psychology results"

Happy Sian Rees, 18, achieved an A B and a D grade in law, Enlgish and psychology.

These results mean she can now study criminology at the University of Kent.

She said: "I'm really happy I got into university.

Sian plans to celebrate her success with friends tonight, and maybe a drink or two.

The North School

Head teacher Nicki Hodges said that its A-level results built on last year’s successes.

She said progress has been marked in the number of pupils gaining grades A to C at A-level, with English, maths, film studies, photography, art, law, psychology and sociology the stand out subjects.

The overall points score per student has gone up “significantly” and 100% of university applicants secured their placements.

Mrs Hodges added: “My congratulations to the pupils who have worked so hard.”

She highlighted the achievements of Cara Hall, who got four A-levels at grades AABC; Luke Henderson who got A*BC at A-level with the A* gained in maths; Bethanie Ashby who got three A-levels all at grade B, plus a Distinction* at BTEC, and Andrew Bruce who got A-level grades BCC and a Distinction at BTEC

The John Wallis Church of England Academy

Principal John McParland said he was delighted with the achievement of the A-level, AS level and BTEC Level 3 students.

Of the 81 students who sat A-level and Level 3 BTEC courses this year, every student achieved at least 1 A*-E grade or equivalent, 81% achieved 2 A*-E grades or equivalent and 64% achieved 3 A*-E grades or equivalent.

Mr McParland said: “With our expanding Sixth Form, we can see the marked progress our students are making each year with this year’s overall average point score per student and per entry having increased on the performance over the last two years."

Kirsty Dixon and Hannah Terry both studied 4 A-level subjects.

Kirsty achieved A grades in English Literature and sociology, a B in law and a C in biology. She is going to study English and American Literature at the University of Kent.

Deputy head girl Hannah Terry scored an A in mathematics, B grades in physics and chemistry and a C in further mathematics. She will study natural sciences at the University of Nottingham.

Liane Castle achieved an A grade in health and social care, an A in media studies and a B in geography; Mia Wilford achieved an A grade in English Literature, a B in media studies and a C grade in photography.

Courtney Hammond achieved a B grade in English Literature, a B in media studies, a C grade in geography, while Abhishek Gurung got B grades in biology and geography and a C in chemistry - and now plans to study medicine in Bulgaria!

Homewood School

Homewood School and Sixth Form Centre students and staff are celebrating another year of A-level successes.

With an overall pass rate of 95% at A-level or the equivalent Level 3 BTEC, the school is also proud that 28% of its students achieved the top grades of A* to B at A-level.

All students who had applied to university were successful in gaining a place.

Sally Lees, principal, of Homewood School, said: “To do well at A-level is not easy and requires hard work and dedication. We are really proud of what our students have achieved and delighted that they are now equipped to take the next step in their journey.

"The purpose of our school is to prepare our young people in the best way we can to move to the next phase of their education and life, with strong qualifications and the confidence to meet all the challenges and opportunities of the future. It is a real privilege to share in celebrating their well-earned success with them today.”

Norton Knatchbull Grammar School

Norton Knatchbull head teacher Susanne Staab said she was delighted that results this year were showing an upward trend.

Pupils at the Hythe Road school collected the all-important brown envelopes containing their grades in the library and there were plenty of smiling faces.

Mohit Dhiman, of Kennington, got four A* grades in maths, biology, chemistry and physics, together with a A at AS level in further maths. He said; “I’m very pleased with my results, really happy and it means that I can take up my place at Cambridge University to study natural sciences.”

Rachael Nicholson-Root, got an A in politics, B in history and C in English and she said: “My grades are better than expected and I’m a bit overwhelmed.

"I was going to put off going to university for a year but now I want to go straight away. Rachael has a place at York St John University.

Elva Tucker is off to Brighton University to study psychology after gaining an A* A and B.

The 18-year-old said: “I retook my A levels this year and I’m so pleased with my results they are so much better than I expected.”

Ashford School

A vast majority of students at Ashford School achieving their first choice university after receiving their A-level results.

Jaz Stoddart is off to Cambridge to study Natural Sciences having achieved A*, A*, A and A in chemistry, physics, biology and maths respectively.

There have been many sets of A*, A and A including Nick Smelt who is going to St Andrews to study French and Spanish - he's hoping for a job in the foreign office; Teddy Learmont who is off to study Aerospace Engineering at Southampton; Rebecca Gardner who is looking forward to studying architecture at Bath, having also achieved 100% in her Art A-level and Daisy Carter who will be studying History at Bristol.

Deputy head teacher Christine Allum said: "Our A-level students should be congratulated on their achievements and we wish them every success with future studies. The results were every bit as good as we expected."