Thousands of teenagers across Kent will receive their GCSE results today.

Grades have reached an all time high this year with 28.9% of entries across the country awarded one of the top three grades.

It's been a nervous wait for the pupils who have had to deal with two years of interrupted schooling due to the pandemic.

They've endured months of home schooling and, after exams were cancelled, they are once again relying on teachers' assessment to determine their grades.

In 2019, when students last took exams, only 20.8% received a 7 which is the equivalent to an A grade.

Across England, 3,606 students received straight 9s compared with 2,645 last year and 837 in 2019.

Among those was Scarlett Mansfield from Benenden School in Cranbrook, who achieved a clean sweep of 13 Level 9 grades.

Northfleet School for Girls announced another year of excellent results, saying "student attainment continued to be very strong despite all of the difficulties of the last 18 months" and reflected everyone’s hard work and determination to succeed.

At Dover Grammar School for Girls 27% of grades were 8 or 9 and 51% were at least 7.

Head teacher Robert Benson said: "Across the country Year 11s have had to negotiate the challenges of the past two years and I could not be more proud of our students here.

At the Oasis Academy on the Isle of Sheppey a number of students achieved top results.

Tamuka Cross, 16, from Sheerness, secured two grade 9s, equivalent of an A in previous years, in combined science, a 9 in English literature and an 8 for English language.

She will be heading to Canterbury College in September to study her A-levels. She said: “I am so happy with my results! I worked really hard. It was everything I’d hoped for.”

Meanwhile, at Barton Court Grammar School in Canterbury, more than 46% of all GCSEs were awarded grade 7-9, with 53 pupils achieving eight or more of the top grades, and 75 gaining five or more.

More than 98% achieved grade 4 or better in English and maths.

Head teacher Jonathan Hopkins said: "Throughout Year 11 our students have worked with purpose and determination.

"As a year group they stepped up to the necessary challenge and demands of additional assessment periods in November, March and May which helped them to evidence the standards required for Teacher Assessed Grades in the summer.

“The results reflected both the quality of teaching that students received across their subjects and the support that the parent body provides to the school ,and their children – particularly during periods of lockdown and remote education."

In a joint statement, Kent County Council’s cabinet Member for education and Skills, Shellina Prendergast, and director of education, Christine McInnes, said: “On behalf of everyone at Kent County Council, we would like to say a huge congratulations to all pupils in Kent who will be receiving results today.

"Covid-19 restrictions may have eased significantly in the past few weeks but we know the pandemic has had a big impact on your education and on your lives in general and it is a credit to your hard work and determination that you are able to receive your results today.

“We must thank school leaders, teachers and support staff who went above and beyond to ensure pupils were able to continue working towards their GCSEs and other qualifications, even during the height of the pandemic when schools were closed to the majority of pupils.

"Parents, carers, and families who supported pupils throughout the pandemic, including while they were working at home, also deserve recognition and praise.

“Today, as is the case every year, there will be some pupils who are disappointed with their results. We would encourage these young people, with the support of their parents or carers if necessary, to speak to school staff as soon as possible as they will be able to offer advice on the different options available.

“Finally, we would like to wish all pupils a relaxing and enjoyable summer and we look forward to welcoming the majority of you back to a Kent school in September.”

Earlier this week, A-level students have received more As and A* than ever before this year.

Almost 45% have been awarded those grades - that's up by more than 6%.

Here are all the answers to questions you might have when you receive your brown envelope.

When will pupils receive their GCSE results?

Those expecting GCSE results will get them today, Thursday, August 12.

Pupils should check with their school or college whether they are still required to pick up their results in person, or whether they will be sent out by email or post instead.

How have the grades been decided this year?

Teachers have been required to consider a range of evidence, including mock exams, coursework, and in-class assessments using questions by exam boards, to make decisions on pupils’ grades.

Head teachers had to submit a personal declaration that they believed grades to be accurate.

Schools and colleges were asked to provide samples of student work to exam boards, as well as evidence used to determine the grades for the students selected, as part of quality assurance (QA) checks.

Random and targeted sample checks of evidence were also carried out after grades were submitted.

In some cases, where the evidence did not support the grades submitted, schools and colleges have been asked to review their grades.

Last summer, the fiasco around grading led to thousands of A-level students having their results downgraded from school estimates by a controversial algorithm, before Ofqual announced a U-turn.

But this year, no algorithm will be used to moderate teachers’ grades.

What should teenagers do if they are unhappy with their final grades?

Pupils who want to appeal against their grade must first request that their school or college reviews whether an administrative or procedural error was made.

Each school or college will set their own deadlines by which students must ask them to review a grade.

If the school or college rules no error was made, then students can escalate the appeal to the exam boards, which their school or college is expected to submit on their behalf.

Head teacher Alan Brookes talking ahead of GCSE results day

In England, the deadline to send an appeal to the exam board is Friday, September 17.

There is an earlier deadline of Monday, August 23 for priority appeals, for example, if a student has not got their first choice of university place confirmed.

Can students sit an exam if they do not like their results?

Teenagers who are unhappy with their GCSE grades will have the opportunity to take exams in the autumn.

GCSE exams will take place in November and December.

The higher grade will count for applicants who wish to take an autumn exam.

What is the plan for the summer exams next year?

Ministers hope that exams will go ahead in summer 2022 after two years of them being cancelled.

But pupils taking GCSE exams next year could be given advance notice on the focus of exam papers to ensure they are not disadvantaged as a result of lost learning during the pandemic.

The proposals include giving schools and colleges some choice over the topics that students are assessed on, as well as providing exam aids, but final details will not be confirmed until the autumn term.

Listen to a GCSE surgery special tonight from 7pm and hear tips and advice from students and experts from the EKC Group, and you can ask questions too if you're not sure on what to do next.

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