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Kent A-Level Results Day 2019

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It's the day thousands of teenagers have been waiting for, A-level results are out.

Our reporters and photographers have been at schools across Kent as students ripped open those all-important envelopes.

The results can have a big impact on what young people do next with going to university among the options.

But if the grades weren't as good as expected, help is at hand from organisations like UCAS.

We ran a live blog throughout the morning, which can be seen below.

You can find coverage of A-level results across Kent here:

13.40pm

Well that's it from us - a massive final well done to everyone who got their A-level results today.

If you didn't get what you wanted, remember it's not the end of the world.

There are plenty of other options, whether that be going through clearing, apprenticeships or heading straight into work.

Whatever you decide to do - make sure you go out and celebrate tonight! School's out!

Pupils celebrate at Brockhill Park Performing Arts College in Hythe
Pupils celebrate at Brockhill Park Performing Arts College in Hythe

13.33pm

An A-level special podcast from KentOnline, including students reacting to results and words from education leaders, is available to listen to now.

13.29pm

Head of admissions at the University of Creative Arts Sarah Sims is offering advice on clearing - have a listen below.

13.20pm

It's not all about money but there are some university degrees which are more likely to lead on to high-earning careers.

Medicine and dentistry are the courses which will give you the highest chance of landing a job after completing your studies, with 97.5% of graduates employed within a year.

These degrees are also the highest paying, with an average salary of £36,600 one year after leaving university, according to data analysed by Satsuma Loans.

Next up is engineering at £26,500, closely followed by economics at £26,000.

13.05pm

One Kent councillor has some words of wisdom to share with all youngsters who've picked up their results today.

Cllr Siju Adeoye says "no matter what results you get today always remember you always still have everything it takes to love and live with colour and life".

The Labour councillor for Chatham Central added: "Don't give up even if you got bad results - don't let it break you, mess you up or shatter your dreams.

"There's always another chance or opportunity - seize it."

13.01pm

12.54pm

It has been a remarkable morning for special needs school Bradfields Academy.

Libby has achieved the Chatham school's first ever A-level result.

She has worked hard to get her A-level in English literature, successfully accomplishing far higher than her target grade.

Libby with her English teacher Danny Garbutt
Libby with her English teacher Danny Garbutt

Staff at the academy said it was "a huge achievement for Libby", adding: "This result is a tribute to the hard work and talent of Libby and the outstanding teaching and support by our staff.

"This clearly demonstrates that Bradfields Academy’s personalised approach to developing each young person’s talents ensures all are successful on their learning journeys and are enabled to reach their full potential."

Bradfields helps children and young people with moderate to complex learning needs.

12.47pm

Dreamland has a special offer for all young people who have opened that dreaded envelope this morning.

Anyone bringing their 2019 exam results along to the Margate funfair today can get a half-price ride wristband.

There are rides, dance workshops, BMX and football displays, food and sweet treats available.

Make sure you bring a valid copy of your results and ID with you to get the discount.

A-level students can get a half-price wristband at Dreamland today
A-level students can get a half-price wristband at Dreamland today

12.40pm

12.34pm

The Duke of York’s Royal Military School near Dover, are celebrating success today.

Overall, 45% of exam results were A* to B grade and 97% were above the pass rate.

While most of the students will soon be studying at university, 10% will be joining the military and another 10% will go straight into employment.

Happy pupils at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School
Happy pupils at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School

12.26pm

Pupils are celebrating another year of great results at Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School.

With an overall pass rate of more than 95%, 24% of grades were A* or A and 43% were A* to B.

Among those with outstanding results are Maisie Manning's, who is off to Oxford to study experimental psychology after bagging two A*s and one A.

And Jasmine Walke has a place at Cambridge after achieving one A* and three As.

12.24pm

12.18pm

The combined sixth form of Wilmington grammar schools in Dartford has seen half of A-level grades awarded at A* to B.

In the new construction qualification, 88% of students secured A* or A grades, paving the way for careers in architecture and engineering.

Top students include Adam Cavender who will has been accepted at Cambridge to study engineering having secured 5 A*/A grades and James Ball with three A*s, who is bound for Imperial to read computing.

Delighted students at Wilmington grammars' sixth form open their results
Delighted students at Wilmington grammars' sixth form open their results

12.09pm

It was a time to rejoice at Sir Roger Manwood’s School in Sandwich, where every student achieved the grades they need to go on to their next step.

The overall pass rate at the grammar school was 98%, with 78% of all grades being at grade C or above, and 52% at grade B or above.

Some of the stand out statistics include 13 students gained at least three As or better, and two who achieved at least three A*s.

12.03pm

Royal Harbour Academy in Ramsgate is one of those offering the International Baccalaureate rather than A-levels.

Head teacher Simon Pullen said: "Our students have done very well in every IB subject and they have exceeded the rigorous targets set by the school.

"Over 50% of the students have decided to go to university and have secured their first choice institution."

Students at Royal Harbour Academy
Students at Royal Harbour Academy

11.58am

Our latest editorial apprentice Megan Carr opening her A-level results

11.54am

11.45am

Westlands' Megan Colverson got an A in her extended project, D in psychology and distinctions in health and social care, and performing arts.

Megan has decided her next chapter will be at Kent Police as a student police officer.

She said: "Joining the police is something I've always liked the idea of - I like helping people and also love crime documentaries."

Megan Colverson will be joining the police force

11.44am

11.40am

Borden Grammar School's exam takers achieved some great results.

The Sittingbourne school had 13 students gain two or more A* or A grades.

Richard Mills achieved A* grades in all four of his subjects – chemistry, further maths, maths and physics.

Richard Mills from Borden Grammar

11.36am

At the Oasis Academy in Sheppey, the vast majority of students were getting results for BTEC subjects which is equivalent to an A-level.

In total, 26% of students achieved A* to B grades in a mix of A-levels and BTECs, and 96.2% achieved A* to E grades.

Helen Curran, assistant principal of Key Stage 5, said: "These outcomes reflect the hard work of students and staff in our sixth form who are committed to securing a bright future with many possibilities for our young people."

11.27am

Year 13 pupils at Invicta Grammar School in Maidstone have once again achieved some top grades.

Out of over 400 examination entries, 43 were A* grades, accounting for 11% of all grades.

And 63% of all grades were A*, A or B.

Invicta head teacher Julie Derrick with some of her Year 13 students
Invicta head teacher Julie Derrick with some of her Year 13 students

Three Invicta students are heading to Oxbridge - Matilda Head will study psychology at Cambridge, Toni Quadri will study French at Oxford and Misa Rai will study medicine at Cambridge.

Head teacher Julie Derrick said: "I am extremely proud and excited about the future of our students, given the outstanding examination results they have achieved this year.

"I am also grateful to the invaluable support of our parents - I am proud of our partnership which has greatly benefited our hard working students.”

11.20am

Head teacher at Westlands School in Sittingbourne Simon Cox might just be the world's best.

He has been handing out ice creams from a classic Mr Whippy van to his A-level students this morning.

Westlands head teacher Simon Cox handing out ice creams to his students

11.18am

Abbey Gibson opens her results to find she’s got three A*s at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls

11.13am

Benenden School near Cranbrook is the latest to announce their results.

Students have come out with 19% of all grades at A* this year, and more than half were A* or A.

Overall, 80% of grades were A* to B.

Some of the top A-level performers at Benenden School
Some of the top A-level performers at Benenden School

Headmistress Samantha Price said: “Many congratulations to our students on their excellent performances this year.

“I am immensely pleased with what they have achieved, especially in the face of some incredibly challenging exam papers this year.

"Benenden girls have, as ever, done themselves proud and are celebrating very well-deserved results."

11.03am

The Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone says it is proud of the "outstanding achievements" of this year's students, with 64.4% of all grades achieved at A* to B.

Among the individuals highlighted was Richard Moore, who took six A-levels.

He got A grades in mathematics, further mathematics, physics, biology and general studies and a B in chemistry.

Head teacher Scott Norman said: "The hard work and dedication of our staff and students never ceases to amaze me.

"We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our students well for the future and look forward to welcoming them back to celebrate their achievements next year at our prize-giving event."

10.54am

Jake Miles is off to the University of Kent
Jake Miles is off to the University of Kent

It's not just A-level results that are out today - teenagers who opted for BTEC qualifications instead will also be finding out how they've done.

Across the East Kent College Group, students at Broadstairs College, Canterbury College, Dover Technical College, Folkestone College and Sheppey College have achieved more than 54,000 qualifications.

Jack Miles studied applied science at Canterbury College.

He achieved three starred distinctions and will be taking up a place at the University of Kent to study a foundation degree in physics and astronomy.

10.47am

At King’s Rochester, grades were significantly higher than last year.

Around 11% achieved A*, 31% A* or A and 57% of grades were A* to B.

Pupils are off to Oxbridge, Durham, Exeter, Nottingham, Manchester, Brunel, Goldsmiths and ACM London.

Giselle Harris will take up her place at Magdalen College, Oxford, to read English language and literature having achieved three A* while Isobel Gilbert, a ‘lifer’ who has been at King’s since nursery, will study veterinary medicine at the University of Surrey after achieving 3 As.

Giselle Harris is going to Magdalen College, Oxford
Giselle Harris is going to Magdalen College, Oxford

10.41am

Our latest editorial apprentice Megan Carr has done herself proud.

She achieved an A* in sociology, A in media studies and B in art.

Well done Megan! Don't celebrate too hard tonight though - you've got work in the morning!

Our latest editorial apprentice Megan Carr has done herself proud. Picture: Meg Brown at Northfleet School for Girls
Our latest editorial apprentice Megan Carr has done herself proud. Picture: Meg Brown at Northfleet School for Girls

10.39am

10.30am

Sutton Valence School in Maidstone has had another increase in the number of students achieving A* to B grades in their A-levels.

This year, 60% of all grades achieved by students were A* to B - an 8% increase on last year's results.

Among those who have found out their grades this morning are Francis Romano, who got three A*s, one A, and one B, and Kate Woodford and Yonglang Zhu, who both achieved three A*s and one A grade.

Sutton Valence students this morning
Sutton Valence students this morning

10.29am

10.22am

Don't worry if you don't get the result you were hoping for.

A record 64,300 students found university places through clearing last year, according to UCAS.

10.20am

10.12am

This is the first year Northfleet School for Girls has offered the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme, and the results have proved it worthwhile.

With an 100% pass rate and 85% of students achieving A*-B grades (Grade 5 or above), teachers "would like to congratulate all students who have worked so hard and engaged so well with the

school."

Paris Dale and Kayleigh Burridge from Northfleet School for Girls
Paris Dale and Kayleigh Burridge from Northfleet School for Girls

Ella Defty got an A in Physics and a B in Maths, and Simran Cheema got a B in Art, Distinction in Business Studies and C in Media Studies.

10.06am

Head teacher of Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, Deoborah Stanley, is very pleased with this year's results.

A number of her students are off to Oxbridge later this year.

Maidstone Grammar School for Girls head teacher Deoborah Stanley

She said: "We have seen an improvement in performance across the board. There have been some fantastic achievements on the part of individual - congratulations to them.

"Particularly given we have a number of new A-levels again this year, we are very pleased with the progress students have made."

10.01am

Dartford Grammar School for Girls student Shannon Clinton-Copeland, 18, will be heading to the University of East Anglia to study English literature and creative writing.

She managed to achieve an A* in her English literature A-level, as well as As in media studies and religious studies.

The Dartford teenager said: "I’m so glad to get these results. I put in a lot of hours and time to getting them.

Shannon Clinton-Copeland from Dartford Grammar collected her results today
Shannon Clinton-Copeland from Dartford Grammar collected her results today

"My family were over the moon and so happy for me. I’ll definitely be going out tonight.

"I want to thank the whole English department for their help and especially Miss McKenzie, who was fantastic."

9.59am

9.57am

Borden Grammar students in Sittingbourne have started to arrive...

9.47am

Robert Sunnocks from Maidstone Grammar School is "pretty chuffed" with his results.

He got 3 A*s in further maths, maths and physics and an A in computing.

Robert Sunnocks from Maidstone Grammar School

Robert will be heading to Warwick University in September to study maths.

9.43am

Maidstone Grammar School headmaster Mark Tomkins is "delighted" with his students' results.

Around 60% achieved A* to B grades, which is 5% more than last year, and 15% more than the year previous.

Mark Tomkins, headmaster of Maidstone Grammar School

On top of this, 40 pupils got at least two As, 18 got two A*s or more and four incredibly high achievers got 3 A*s or better.

Mr Tomkins said:"We are delighted and all of this is down to the hard work of students and staff."

9.41am

9.33am

The number of A-level students achieving As and A*s this year has just been revealed.

Across the country, 25.5% of pupils got an A or A*, 7.8% achieved an A*, and 75.8% got a C or above.

The overall pass rate was 97.6%.

9.30am

One Highworth pupil, Ralph Battle, is heading to Cambridge this year after getting a whopping five A*s.

Ralph Battle has bagged five A*s
Ralph Battle has bagged five A*s

He said: "I could hardly sleep last night, I was waking up every hour."

9.17am

Almost 50% of students at Highworth Grammar School in Ashford achieved A* to B grades in all their A-levels.

Susan Welch, head of sixth form, said: "The A-level results are absolutely incredible. It's all down to the vision, effort and drive of the students and staff for excellence."

Head of Highworth Grammar sixth form Susan Welch
Head of Highworth Grammar sixth form Susan Welch

9.10am

Reporter John Nurden has arrived at Borden Grammar School in Sittingbourne where pupils have just starting turning up.

8.59am

8.40am

Apprenticeships are another option besides university after you've got your A-levels.

With the high cost of tuition fees, earning while you learn on an apprenticeship scheme could be an appealing option.

To find out more and browse the schemes which are on offer in Kent click here.

There are plenty of other options besides university
There are plenty of other options besides university

8.24am

8.18am

An advice line has also been set up for those interested in apprenticeships and alternatives to university.

Training giant QA says it's the first such dedicated hotline offering access to over 500 apprenticeships at firms across the country.

The number to call is 03450 747825.

8.12am

8.02am

7.57am

Feeling a bit overwhelmed and not confident with using the UCAS website?

The UCAS helpline is now open until 7pm.

Call 037146 80468 for advice on all things uni.

Make sure to have your personal ID ready so staff can easily find your records.

7.37am

If you have applied to university this year, you may be pleased to hear you can now be released into clearing online for the first time.

UCAS has a new feature - the online self-release button.

It means in the case where you have not got the grades to get into the university you initially applied for, you no longer have to wait to be released into clearing.

You can now be released into clearing on the UCAS website
You can now be released into clearing on the UCAS website

Just log onto UCAS Track and click "decline my place" to begin the process.

But you will still need to talk to the universities or colleges you want to apply to.

7.22am

Whether you get the results you want or not, you can celebrate the end of your school years with a free, tasty meal.

Nando's is offering a free quarter chicken or starter to all students picking up their A-level results today.

Grab your free Nando's after picking up your results
Grab your free Nando's after picking up your results

You just need to show the waiter your results slips and valid ID, and spend at least £7 to get the deal.

You can eat-in, or if you'd rather head home to relax, there is also the option to take-away.

The offer is valid in all Nando's restaurants across the county.

7.10am

This might be useful if your grades aren't what you were expecting

6.30am

We're feeling for our apprentice Megan today.

Not only is she collecting her own A-level results, she's also reporting on others getting theirs.

Good luck Megan!

6am

Today's the day! We're keeping everything crossed you get the results you need if you're collecting them this morning.

Lots of teenagers have been turning to Childline ahead of results arriving.

KMTV spoke to Childline about the impact of A-level results on young people

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 Kent

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