There was to be no repeat of the A-levels fiasco as pupils across Thanet collected their GCSE results on Thursday.

A Government U-turn earlier in the week saw all grades revert back to those assessed by teachers when the coronavirus pandemic forced all exams to be scrapped.

Results for A-level students had originally been decided by a controversial algorithm which downgraded 40% of all marks across the country.

Under the revised system. almost half of all GCSE grades at Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School were a 7 or above - equivalent of at least an A under the old grading system.

Head teacher Debra Liddicoat defended the government’s decision to allow teacher-assessed grades.

She said: “Despite the fact they did not sit the final exams, at the point at which the school closed its doors in March, students had completed the majority of the GCSE course content, had sat mocks exams and completed numerous assessments and written essays based on past GCSE questions, all which gave their teachers the data they needed to make their judgement about the grades students would have achieved had they sat the actual exams.”

Her thoughts were echoed by King Ethelbert’s head of school, Vicky Willis, who said: “It is absolutely right that these grades are not moved down by the government’s statistical model and the students get the grades they rightly deserve.”

While widespread comparisons with results in previous years are yet to be seen, Charles Dickens head teacher Warren Smith says pupils at the school “saw a significant increase in attainment and progress”.

“Despite not sitting the final exams, the centre-assessed grades awarded are indicative of pupils’ hard work and determination throughout their course of study and they should be congratulated nonetheless,” he said.

“This year has been like no other and I have sympathy for the uncertainty that this group of pupils have faced. The resilience they have shown in the face of this will serve them well as they move on.”

Hartsdown head teacher Matthew Tate said the school’s pupils had shown “amazing resilience and fortitude”.

Among the top performers was Nicholas Gaitan, who scored a 9 in maths, and 7s in English language and science.

Mr Tate said: “I am delighted by how brilliantly our students have achieved, having worked so hard on their GCSEs before being forced to end their studies prematurely because of the pandemic.

“The results they received are both well-deserved and hard-earned as this year’s cohort have faced challenges that no other Year 11 group has faced.”

Royal Harbour Academy pupils collected their results in staggered slots.

Among the top performing pupils was Daisy Supple, whose nine GCSEs included four 9s, an 8, and a 7.

“I am absolutely over the moon with my results,” she said.

“I was getting so nervous with the new grading system introduced but I’m so happy.”

Alex Sabau also gained nine GCSEs, including two 8s and three 7s.

“I’m speechless and happy and obviously proud,” he said.

St Lawrence College’s head of college, Barney Durrant, said its pupils had been awarded “the GCSE grades that they deserve”.

He added: “We are all very proud of them for the maturity and resilience they have shown throughout the whole process.”

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