For a second successive year, pupils across the country are receiving their results after exams were cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Students at schools and colleges in Folkestone and Hythe will today discover the grades determined by their teachers, rather than exams, assessed on what they have been taught during the year.

Ofqual interim chief regulator Simon Lebus told the BBC that the watchdog wanted to create a system where every student was given a fair chance to show what they can do.

“I’m very confident that, when they get their grades on Tuesday and Thursday this week, they’ll be able to feel satisfied that that’s happened,” he told the broadcaster.

At Folkestone School for Girls almost half of all grades awarded were at A*/A.

There were notable individual successes for Eileen Keller, who achieved three A* grades in biology, chemistry and mathematics to secure a place at the University of Leeds to study medical engineering, and for Daisy Miloch, who achieved three A* grades in English literature, geography and history and will be studying medieval and early modern studies at Canterbury Christ Church University.

School principal Mark Lester said: "Results days are always moments in time to reflect and celebrate student achievement and all of the hard work, energy and effort that has gone into realising that achievement.

This year, after such a tumultuous year for all students at all schools it is especially important to recognise those achievements under the most trying of circumstances.

"Alongside their results, published today, we must also recognise and celebrate the resilience, determination, and alacrity of our young people. With long periods out of school, a very different classroom experience when in school, and with long periods of uncertainty to contend with, they have achieved much.

"I must also thank and honour my staff, who like colleagues across the country, have adopted and adapted in trying to deliver the very best education possible under Covid."

At the Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone, department head Andy Allon said: "We are delighted that our students have performed so well this year in the face of such a challenging period for all.

"The hard work of staff and students has delivered a very impressive set of A-level results and this is great news for our boys who have worked so hard in the face of significant difficulties caused by events outside of their control.

"We are all very relieved to see grades achieved in line with our usual excellent outcomes and wish all our boys the very best for the next stage of their journey which we sincerely hope will prove to be less impacted with issues caused by the pandemic."

A possible rise in the number of students achieving top A-level results does not represent a “devaluing of grades”, a school leaders’ union has said.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said this year’s students have suffered more disruption than any cohort and their results should be “celebrated”.

We will be updated you with all the results from schools across Folkestone and Hythe as we get them today.

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone

Read more: All the latest news from Hythe