Pupils across Medway were celebrating their GCSE results this morning – despite national predictions an alarming dip in grades.

At St John Fisher Catholic School 48% of students got grades A* to C based on the new government first entry policy with 51% attaining A*-C, at best entry which is the measure used for schools last year. 90% of students achieved five or more GCSEs qualifications.

Catherine Burnett, head teacher said: “This a credit to the hard work put in by students and staff alike who in the last three years of studying their GCSE courses have faced numerous changes to assessment criteria, grade boundaries and assessment methods.

“We are extremely proud of their achievements.”

Pupils collecting their results from King’s Rochester this morning were, again, celebrating clutches of top grades.

Principal of King’s, Jeremy Walker said: “I am delighted that our talented and hard-working pupils have done so well again this year. We have some outstanding results again and the percentage of A* grades achieved by King’s pupils is up for the third consecutive year.

“With over two thirds of all GCSE grades at King’s this year being A* to B, I would like to congratulate all our hard-working pupils and their teachers.”

At Chatham Grammar School for Boys 29% of students achieved A* and A grades.

Principal Stuart Gardner said: “I am delighted for the students, they have worked incredibly hard this year and deserve the excellent grades they have achieved.

"These excellent GCSE results along with the best ever A level results that were published last week have made this a great summer for students at Chatham Grammar School for Boys.”

Year 11 students at the Rochester Math School have celebrated record breaking results. 99.4% gained the key benchmark of five or more A* to C grades including English and Maths.

100% of youngsters were awarded three or more A* grades (up from 82% last year and 68% two years ago). 62% of the year group gained 5 or more A* and A grades.

Remarkably, nearly half of Year 11 (47%) gained eight or more A* and A grades.

Head teacher Eliot Hodges said: “I am delighted for all our hard-working students. Today’s results represent the culmination of two years of focus and effort from the youngsters and their teachers.

"I am particularly pleased by the significant rise in the number of students obtaining at least eight A* grades.”

Anna Roche was shaking with trepidation was she arrived early outside the school gates at Thomas Aveling to pick up her results. Minutes later her fears were allayed and she was crying with joy as she achieved three As, four Bs and a C.

Anna, 16, of Cloisterham Road, Rochester, said: “It’s been very stressful, with nine subjects and 20 exams, but it’s all paid off.”

Head teacher Paul Jackson said: “I am so proud of everyone that is involved with Thomas Aveling. These results are the best ever for the school by some margin and reflect the hard work of the students and the dedication of all of the staff."

Students at The Rochester Grammar School were celebrating another year of outstanding results.

An impressive 69% of all grades were at A* or A grade and 100% of pupils attained five A* to C with English and maths.

One-in-five students secured A* and A grades across the board and four-out-of-five students achieved five A* and A grades or more.

Principal Gwynn Bassan, said: “I am very proud of our students’ performance in their examinations and I wish to congratulate them for their outstanding achievements.”

More pictures and stories in the Medway Messenger tomorrow and Monday.