Scenes outside the school gates in Deal, Dover and Sandwich were rather contrasting this A-Level results day to those of previous years.

The car park of Sandwich Technology School remained almost empty with results issued electronically while Dover Grammar School for Boys staggered the arrival of its pupils keen to learn of their fate.

And while many were delighted with their awarded grades, others who found they have been downgraded as a result of the government algorithm implemented by the exam boards were given the necessary help and support.

This is our round up of the district's schools:

Goodwin Academy

Goodwin Academy in Deal opened its school gates for results days however with a limited amount of students allowed on site at any one time.

Gone were the congratulatory handshakes this year, instead principal Simon Smith dished out socially distanced elbow bumps to commend his pupils.

Callum Blanch was among those who were high performing. He achieved Distinction, Distinction*, Merit, and will continue his education studying computer science the University of Portsmouth.

Alfie Parson received Distinction*, Merit, Merit, Pass and has applied to the police force.

Ceyln Davies received two Bs and is taking up an apprenticeship as a teaching assistant at Hornbeam Primary School before applying for university next year.

James Pointer, who achieved BBC, will be attending University of Kent to study conservation. Rhian Thompson achieved BBC and has secured a place at the University of Kent to study biomedical science.

Mr Smith said: “I would like to congratulate all students on the results they have achieved, they must all be very proud of their successes which reflects their dedication and commitment.

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"It is rewarding to see their hard work pay off, especially during this difficult time.

"I would also like to thank all staff, parents and the wider school community for their continued hard work and support during the process.”

Duke of York's Royal Military School

Students at The Duke of York’s Royal Military School, near Dover, are celebrating success at A-Level and BTEC with an increase in A* and A grades which has been achieved through a new approach to teaching and learning.

England’s only state boarding school is particularly pleased 80% of students will be going to university to continue their education.

Of the rest, 10% will go into the military and 10% will find employment.

Of particular note, 88% of BTEC Engineering results achieved Distinction or higher.

Outstanding success includes: Ruben Bentley with A*A*A*A* in chemistry, further maths, physics and maths. He will read theoretical physics at Durham; Sophie O’Smotherly with A* English literature, A* EPQ, A* religious studies, A in business will read English literature at Cambridge, and Jordanna Ramsey with A* in religious education, A history, A physics will read Law at Nottingham.

Alex Foreman, the school’s principal, said: “This has been an unusual year to say the least; however, students have performed exceedingly well and continued to raise the bar of our Sixth Form academic excellence.

"I’d like to congratulate all our students and wish them well for the future.

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"While the exam regulator Ofqual’s results system has not entirely reflected our true success largely due to the perceived ‘disadvantaged’ factor and our rapid improvement in the last few years, significant progress continues to be made. Over the last three years under new leadership, this has included a more challenging curriculum with accurate tracking and assessment.

"There has been a complete shift in the culture of teaching and learning focused on ambition, positivity and optimism, along with a holistic approach to student wellbeing with support and mentoring.

"Students are also encouraged to achieve their best in everything they do, not just in the classroom.”

Dover Christ Church Academy

Small groups of students arrived six at a time to Dover Christ Church Academy to pick up their A-Level results from an adequate social distance.

Despite being downgraded by up to two grades in some subjects from their predicted scores, university is still in sights for most students.

Téa Cooley, 18, is off to Canterbury Christ Church University to study occupational therapy and is celebrating her grades that secured her place there.

She got a distinction* in business and a C in sociology, which she will be appealing because of the downgrading. Today she awaits her health and social care grades which were delayed because of a technical glitch with the examination board.

With the whole cohort not able to sit exams because of the lockdown, Téa said: "I feel like I couldn't prove myself.

"But it's a global pandemic so it's not the end of the world."

Sadie Pile, 18 agreed and said: "I don't feel like we have earned our grades."

She got a C in sociology, a c in business and will study criminology at Canterbury Christ Church Uni.

Their friend Tazmin Fagg, 18, got a distinction* for business and awaits her health and social care grade. She'll study psychology with sport at Christ Church university.

The trio along with other friends will celebrate on a night out in Deal.

Principal Jamie McLean said: "In a year of turmoil surrounding Covid-19 and exam results, the key to success today is securing student destinations.

"We are therefore delighted that the majority of students have secured the next step into higher education, apprenticeship or employment with no student not having an onward destination.

"I am also pleased that once again our link with our sponsor Canterbury Christ Church University has encouraged students into higher education with over 56% of the cohort progressing to university and 48% of that number starting at CCCU in September.

"I am incredibly proud of my student body and the maturity they have shown throughout this crisis.

"With a results day in which some final grades are yet to be attributed and some have been reduced with no clear explanation, they have been resolute in their positive attitude.

"They are a credit to the academy."

Dover Grammar School for Girls

Dover Grammar School for Girls (DGGS) arranged appointment times for its students to collect their results.

While there were many individual successes, headteacher Mr Benson said some students were disappointed and the necessary support was given.

He said: “This has been a very different results day for students here, as it has been across the country, and the results for this year’s A level cohort have once again shown the dedication of our Sixth Form students.

"This year, students have benefitted from our new 3+ curriculum, balancing high quality teaching and learning in three chosen subjects with additional options such as EPQ, work experience, additional academic subject study and leadership opportunities.

"This holistic approach to learning within our large and vibrant Sixth Form ensures students leaving the school have a broad and valuable skills set to equip them for the next stage of their lives.

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"While there are many individual successes, overall results have not been reflective of the changes to the curriculum over the last two years or the hard work of our students and, for some students, this has led to disappointment.

"Where students have been downgraded from the Centre Assessed Grades (CAGs) as a result of the government algorithm implemented by the exam boards we have supported students through appeals and communication with the universities and colleges and work placements to ensure they are not disadvantaged.

"Overall, I am extremely proud of the way in which these young people have continued to focus and develop their expertise in preparation for the range of onward destinations over the lockdown period.

"We wish them every success in the next stage of their lives and look forward to hearing about their future successes.”

Sandwich Technology School

Sandwich Technology School distributed its exams results electronically meaning the usually packed car park contained just five cars this morning.

Their results had been determined by the examination boards, by a method which is a mixture of teacher assessment and statistical modelling to ensure consistency with previous years both from a national and school level perspective.

It resulted in an overall improvement in their A-Level results for the third successive year.

The percentage of grades A* - C grades (or equivalent) was 71% - up from 58% last year, and the overall pass rate was 98% - up from 96% last year.

Head teacher Tracey Savage said: “Despite a year that is full of difficulty and controversy our students have done very well indeed.

"It looks like all the students who want to go university will be offered a place, with the vast majority going to their first-choice destinations– including some Russell Group universities.

"I have no doubt that these excellent results are due to a positive attitude, hard work and a determination to do well, all of which is supported by the dedication and unyielding efforts of the staff. My congratulations to everyone.”

Ryan Batchelor was among the school's high achievers earning an A*, A and A in product design, physics and maths. He is going to pursue a career in agriculture.

Rosie English achieved an A*, A, B and C in art, textiles, English literature and history and is going to study English at Roehampton.

Jamie-Lee Culver achieved three A grades in art, film studies and criminology and is going to study photography, also at Roehampton.

Freddie Forman achieved an A, B and B in English literature, history and sociology and has been offered a place to study history at Bristol.

Dover Grammar School for Boys

Dover Grammar School for Boys staggered the arrival of students to collect their results, in a socially distant fashion.

As per government instruction, pupils were given their assessed grades but can sit the exams in the autumn if they wish.

However the likes of George Ewbank will not need to having achieved A* A A securing a replace to study medicine at Newcastle University.

Becca Vickers gained A* A A and will go on to start an apprenticeship with a high-performing architectural firm.

Headteacher Phil Horstrup said: "At the end of what has been a tremendously challenging year for all Year 13 students across the country, it has been exceptionally pleasing today to be able to celebrate with our students the culmination of their studies and to work with them to ensure that they are able to move on to university, employment or training.

"The overwhelming majority of our Year 13 students, who have done so brilliantly to cope with such a truncated final year of education - a final year during which the normal rites of passage have been denied to them - are now able to move to the next stage of their careers with confidence and we are absolutely delighted for them.

"We will, as each year, continue to work with all our students to ensure that they are able to go out into the world and achieve their ambitions and we remain immensely proud of them, their resilience and their achievements."

Sir Roger Manwood's Grammar School

Not a soul could be seen at Sir Roger Manwood’s Grammar School (SRMS) in Sandwich this morning.

Students would usually be seen piling out of the school hall waving their exam results but instead the doors were firmly closed with metal rails also in place.

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Parents would usually wait anxiously in cars along both sides of Manwood Road but not in 2020. Just a handful of cars appear parked up, perhaps those of staff.

KentOnline is yet to receive any information regarding pupils' results.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal