Pupils across Kent have received their A-levels results today – as grading returns to pre-pandemic standards.

Schools were warned to expect results to be lower than last year when 82% of exams in England were passed at grade C or above.

Ofqual, the body which regulates qualifications and exams, has sought to reassure those hoping to move on to higher education that universities will take the return to pre-pandemic grading into account when allocating places.

This year’s grades – which also include T Level and BTEC results - will be more broadly comparable with those in 2019, as students in the 2023 cohort have not experienced the national school and college closures that affected the education of previous year groups during the Covid-19 crisis.

The proportion of A-levels marked at A* and A this year in England was 26.5%, down from 35.9% in 2022.

Schools minister Nick Gibb has said exam results need to return to pre-pandemic levels this year to ensure the qualifications carry “weight and credibility” with employers, universities and colleges.

It comes after Covid-19 led to an increase in top A-level and GCSE grades in 2020 and 2021, with results based on teacher assessments instead of exams.

Speaking ahead of today’s results, Kent County Council’s director of education Christine McInnes said: “I want to thank our school and college leaders, and their teaching and support staff, who each year pull out all the stops to make sure students are prepared to take their exams.

“I also want to congratulate students for all their hard work over the past two years and wish them good luck as they plan their next steps.”

At Ursuline College, in Westgate-on-Sea, students have been celebrating an A-level pass rate of 96%, and a 99% pass rate in BTECs

Head teacher Danielle Lancefield said: “We are exceptionally proud to celebrate these achievements with our students. Their success is down to the hard work they have shown with their A-level and BTEC courses.

“The commitment of our students has been supported by their families and inspired by our amazing teachers at Ursuline College who have supported them in the classroom each day. As our students move on to their next chapter, we wish them all the best and congratulate them on their successes.”

Lee Kane, head teacher at Astor Secondary School in Dover, has expressed his pride in a 12% increase in the number of A*-C grades awarded to pupils at the school.

He said: “We are extremely proud that the achievement in all subjects where examinations took place has also improved. Some subjects of note with a 100% pass rate include biology, chemistry, mathematics, sociology, English literature, PE and history.

“We wish each and every one of the students all the very best for the future and we hope that they can celebrate over the coming days the achievements they have gained.”

Students at Sevenoaks School achieved an average IB Diploma score of 38.7 points, more than eight points above the world average and in line with the school’s pre-pandemic results.

KCC cabinet member for education and skills, Cllr Rory Love, said: “Good luck to all students who find out their exam results today. They have put in a lot of hard work over the past two years and I wish them the best in whatever they decide to do next.”

At East Kent Colleges group’s campuses, students were collecting their T-level and BTEC Level 3 results. T-levels were introduced in 2021, and today marks the first results day for these two-year Level 3 qualifications.

Graham Razey, chief executive of EKC Group, said: “It’s absolutely wonderful to see our students collecting their results today and I’m incredibly proud of each and every one of them.

“This year is particularly special, as we’re witnessing the first cohort of T-level learners collecting their results and I couldn’t be more pleased with how they’ve all done.

"We’ve had some absolutely fantastic results with our T-levels this year, with a whopping 100% pass rate in our Broadstairs College’s early years T-level. And that’s with three-quarters of those learners receiving a merit for their work.”

At the Abbey School in Faversham, 22% of exams were passed at A*-B grades.

Head teacher Dr Rowland Speller said: “This achievement is a true reflection of the collaborative effort put forth by our students and dedicated departments. Their commitment to academic excellence and personal growth is truly commendable, and we're proud to see students excel."

Vicki Shaw, head teacher at Rainham School for Girls, praised the “resilience and determination” of this year’s pupils.

She said: “This cohort of students have had to work harder than ever for the summer exams after having their GCSEs cancelled in 2021 and we could not be happier for the huge number of successes our students have achieved.

“They have shown resilience and determination in the face of educational difficulties due to Covid and we are really proud to see their hard work rewarded.”

The headmistress of Benenden School, near Cranbrook, has praised this year’s A-level students, who have outperformed the pre-pandemic year for top grades.

Samantha Price said: “These are an impressively strong set of results and I would like to congratulate our students on their achievements.

“Nationally, this year’s Year 13 students will feel hard done by that they are the first cohort to be exposed to measures that are deliberately aimed at reducing the proportion of top grades. However, Benenden’s students should feel very pleased with their success.”

Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, advised students to do some “preparation” ahead of receiving their results today to ensure they know how to navigate the clearing system in case they need to find an alternative university place.

She told the PA news agency: “For most students you’re going to get your first or insurance offer, but it’s a good idea to have a back-up plan.”

A rising number of 18-year-olds in the population has made the university admissions system “competitive” this year and this trend is expected to continue in the years to come, Ms Stern said.