Students up and down the country woke up this morning filled with dread as they got ready to find out their A-level results.

Schools will open their doors to welcome their sixth form pupils back to find out how they fared in exams in May and June.

This is the first year that a new type of A-levels was rolled out across the country, with students sitting exams at the end of two years of study.

Many youngsters will rely on these results to get into university or to secure work placements.

We'll be updating this thread all day to show you how schools across Maidstone, Malling and the Weald got on.

Oakwood Park Grammar School, Maidstone

Just under a third of students at Oakwood Park Grammar achieved A* or A grades.

A third of the year group also took an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in addition to their A-levels, and 70% achieved an A* or A grade in this.

Of particular note are Benjamin Gowers, head boy, who will take up a place to study modern foreign languages at Merton College, Oxford, after achieving three A* grades, and William Sumner, who got three A grades and will study international management at the University of Bath.

Kevin Moody, headmaster, said: “The fact that nearly 60% of our students achieved grades from A* to B is testimony to the extensive support we give our sixth formers as they move from year 12 to 13, with very few deciding to pursue their education elsewhere. We are proud of their achievements.”

Cameron McIntosh, 18, surprised his teachers when he passed with three A* grades. He liked to mess around at school but as exams approached, he changed his tune.

He said: “When it comes to exams I put my head down.” When the A* student told his mother, she was over the moon.

He added: “She was helping me with it more than anyone. I couldn’t have done it without her.” Cameron will go on to study criminal psychology at Sussex.

Another student whisking off to university is William Sumner, 18, who received three A grades and an A*. Excited for September, he will be studying international management with Spanish at Bath.

Ms Abbie Hern, director of sixth form said:“It proves they are able to take it on and gain an elite qualification.”

Tonbridge School

Boys at Tonbridge School sat Pre-U qualifications in some subjects along with A-levels, with more than two thirds of all grades being A* or A, or their Pre-U equivalent of distinctions.

The Pre-U is an alternative to the A-level, recognised by and developed with universities, which develops in-depth subject knowledge, research skills, and independent thinking.

There were 313 students who sat exams this year, with 98% achieving A* to C grades, and 31% achieving A*s.

Tim Haynes, headmaster, said: “Congratulations to the boys, their parents, and all our staff for their efforts in achieving these results.”

Skinners School, Tunbridge Wells

Of the 127 students who sat A-level exams at Skinners School in Tunbridge Wells, 92% achieved A* to C grades.

Even more impressive is that almost 17% of students attained A* grades. The vast majority of students will now proceed to Russell Group universities.

Edward Wesson, headmaster, said: “These students have had to put up with exam reform, a bewildering mixture of modular and linear A-levels, and have come through with great results.

“They deserve our congratulations for their hard work and dedication, as indeed do all teachers here.”

The Maplesden Noakes School, Maidstone

Richard Owen, headmaster at Maplesden Noakes, was thrilled with his students’ results, saying they were by far the best results in the history of the school.

He added: “This year is the first year of the more demanding A-level courses, and yet our students have performed better than ever before.

“Congratulation to all students for your amazing success, and thank you to staff and parents for all your hard work.”

Included in the 78% of students who achieved A* to C grades, were James Petrie, head boy, achieved two A*s and an A, who has offers to study at both Warwick and Reading, and Rebecca Tuffin, who achieved three As and a B and has an offer to study at Exeter University.

Invicta Grammar School, Maidstone

Invicta Grammar also achieved the best results in the school’s history, with 75% of grades being A*, A, or B. All in all, out of 148 students, 213 A* and A grades were achieved.

Julie Derrick, headmistress, said: “I am extremely proud and excited about the wonderful futures for our students, given the outstanding examination results they have achieved this year.

“More Invicta students than ever before will head off to the best universities, continuing the exciting journey they started with us seven years ago.

“Our students have yet again risen to the challenge of combining their own academic achievement with charitable work, to not only give themselves the best possible opportunities moving forward, but also to improve the lives of others in their local, national and international community.

“It has been a real delight to see their smiling faces as they have had fun along the way!”

The Malling School, East Malling

Malling School students no longer study A-levels, and instead follow the International Baccalaureate Careers Programme. Students achieved a 100% pass rate for this course, which is something previous sixth form students never achieved through A-levels.

Carl Roberts, headmaster, said: “We are delighted by the success of our young people, who have worked extremely hard to achieve such amazing results.”

Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar

Of the students at Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar, two girls sat four A-levels and attained A* grades in all of them, and eight pupils who sat three A-levels achieved straight A*s.

Fifty-seven girls got at least one A* grade, and 39 girls achieved at least three A grades.

Richard Smith, assistant head, said: “We are incredibly proud of our girls, who apply themselves with such devotion to their studies, and have excelled with fantastic results.”

The Judd School, Tonbridge

Students and staff at The Judd School are celebrating record results. Of all A-level entries, almost 88% achieved A*, A, or B grades, and almost 50% of students achieved three As or higher.

Thirty-two students gained places at Oxford or Cambridge, and 12 students achieved four A*s, with 50% of results in English literature, Latin and further mathematics being graded at A*.

Robert Masters, outgoing head, said: “I am delighted for our students and staff, who have all worked so hard and with such enthusiasm to realise these exceptional results.

“It has been a great privilege to work alongside such aspirational students and to see them grow in knowledge and character, developing their skills and abilities to both serve and lead.”

Future Schools Trust - Cornwallis Academy and New Line Learning Academy, Maidstone

Students achieved a 94% pass rate at Future Schools Trust, an increase on last year’s results. Out of the 108 students who sat exams at the Hubbards Lane school, and its sister site, New Line Learning in Boughton Lane, 53% achieved A* to C grades.

A statement released on behalf of Joseph Sutton and Janine Climie, directors of the Sixth Form, said: “We are pleased with today’s results and thank all of our students, staff and parents for their support and hard work. These results illustrate their dedication and commitment.”

Students who lead the celebrations this morning included Elise Uloh, who achieved an A*, a B, and two Cs, while Harry Rofe achieved B grades for English, sociology, and film studies.

The Lenham School

In its first year, The Lenham School, formerly Swadelands School, has produced an outstanding set of results, with more than half of all exams graded as As or A*s.

Notable high performers include Callum Rogers, who achieved two A*s and two As, and Chloe Peters, Archie Irvine, Jordan Haylett, and James Hoskinson, who all got three A*s.

Chris Foreman, headmaster, commented: “These results are truly outstanding, and a real cause for celebration for our students and their families.

“I am thrilled that all our students are now planning for exciting futures in September as they move on to the next stages in their lives.”

Bethany School, Goudhurst

Bethany School has continued its upward trend of pupils attaining top marks, with many students securing places at their first choice universities.

Rosie Lindsley from Smarden got straight As and will study fashion at Edinburgh University, while George Knight from Cranbrook will read History at the University of Kent.

Francie Healy, headmaster, said: “The hard work of our pupils and diligence of our committed staff have once again reaped rich reward. I am thrilled so many of our pupils are going to their preferred universities, and am equally proud of those who have chosen employment pathways.”

Maidstone Grammar School

Just under a fifth of grades at Maidstone Grammar School were A*s or As, and 72% of all exams were graded A* to C. Twenty-eight students got two A grades or better, and 18 pupils achieved at least three A grades or better. These results mean that around 90% of students secured university places.

Top scholars were Max Green, Joe Maddison-Roberts, Oli Oakley, Josh Watts, and Lewis White, who all gained at least two A* grades.

Mark Tomkins, headmaster, commented: “These are good results, which reflect the hard work of students and staff at a time when there have been lots of changes to many A-level subjects.”

St Simon Stock Catholic School, Maidstone

This year saw a 97% pass rate at St Simon Stock, with an average of one in five entries achieving A* and A grades.

Arthur King achieved A* grades in RE and history, as well as A grades in psychology, and will go on to student history at The University of Warwick.

Ben Williams, director of sixth form, commented: “We are so pleased with these results, achieved after two years of hard work by our students. In most instances, these results were achieved in new, more demanding courses, which increased the pressures on the students during their two years of study.”

Arthur King, 18 was lost for words when he discovered he had passed with two A*s and an A. He said: “I always doubted it, the grade boundaries are so high.”

Arthur will be studying history at University of Warwick. He said: “I’ve always loved history, I’ve always had a passion for it.”

Ella Hibbs-Newman, 18, was dreading opening her letter. She said: “I woke up at 3am, I just couldn’t sleep.”

Her worries all vanished when she received A*, A, and B grades, meaning she was going to Loughborough University to study Sociology. She said: “Revision was very intense, it got very stressful very quick.”

Wrotham School

This year 87% of students reached A to C grades, with 15 students achieving three or more A* or A grades.

Nisha Wiseman, a year 11 student at the school, achieved an A in A-level maths, sitting the exam two years early.

Other notable performances include Chloe Chan who achieved two A*s and a C, Bryony Clarke who got an A*, an A and a C, and Andre Marjolin, who got two As and a C.

Valley Park School, Maidstone

Students, parents, and staff celebrated at Valley Park School, which has once again broken records with its results. Of the 142 year 13 students who sat exams, 64% of grades were A* or A.

Josie Edwards achieved two A*s, an A, and two Distinction*s, Nicola Jurkiewicz achieved an A and three Bs, and Ben Brough got two As, a B, and a C.

Vic Ashdown, head teacher, said: “This is an outstanding set of results, particularly given the move this year to more demanding A-levels.

“We are thrilled for our students and their families, who will be celebrating many fantastic individual successes whilst planning for exciting futures in September.”

Aylesford School Sports College

Aylesford School celebrated a record year of results. English literature, science, business, health and social care, IT, performing arts and sports student celebrated a 100% pass rate.

Half of all A-level students will be going on to university, with two thirds of those opting for courses outside of the county in cities such as Newcastle, Nottingham and Reading.

Many other students are going on to take up places on apprenticeship schemes, while one will travel and work in Japan for a year.

From September the school will also offer the International Baccalaureate Careers Related Programme course.

The Hayesbrook School, Tonbridge

There was a 100% pass rate in art, design technology and geography at The Hayesbrook School, which was also the level of success in technical and applied vocational courses, including business studies and creative media.

Daniel Hatley, principal, said: “I am extremely proud of what our brilliant students have achieved. Their success is well deserved and I am so pleased that so many of them will be moving on to the university or career of their choice and that their time at Hayesbrook has helped them to secure such bright futures.”

West Kent College, Tonbridge

There was a 94% pass rate for exams at West Kent Colllege, with 58 students sitting exams in the summer. Seven out of 13 subjects offered achieved a 100% pass rate. This year the percentage of A and B grades was up by 7% on last year, and the number of students achieving A* grades also increased.

Mascalls Academy, Paddock Wood

Students and staff at Mascalls Academy celebrated some excellent A-level results, with students going on to top universities and high-level apprenticeships.

Of the 81 students who sat exams this summer, 99% achieved a pass, and 78% of students achieved A* to C grades.

Stand-out performances came from Ilona Boyle, who achieved three A*s, Julia Brechtelsbauer who got three As, Helga Awa who got an A*, an A, and a B, and Edward Pargeter who achieved two A*s and a C.

Maidstone Grammar School for Girls

At Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, students celebrated another successful year, with 59% of grades being between A* and B, and 26% between A* and A.

Deborah Stanley, headmistress, said: “We are delighted with the achievements of all our students this summer and wish them the very best for the future.”

One trio of friends did particularly well securing eight A*s and three As between the. Hannah Wallace will be heading to Cambridge to study engineering, while Anna Norman has secured a place at Anglia Ruskin to do illustration and Alexandra Hadaway will study biochemistry at Sussex.

Cranbrook School

Cranbrook School rose to the challenge of recent exam reforms, with 70% of tests being graded between A* and B, and 90% A* and C. Two students, John Goodwin and Angus Thomas, achieved four straight A*s, with five of their fellow pupils achieving three A* grades.

Nine students have gained places at Oxbridge colleges, and many others secured a spot at their chosen university.

John Weeds, headmaster, commented: “Our students have performed superbly this year, especially when the changes to A-level are taken into account. It is even tougher to gain those top grades now, and it is great to see so many of our students achieving them.

“None of this would have been possible without the excellent work of our teaching staff on our students’ behalf. They really have gone the extra mile in getting to grips with the new structure of A-levels.”

Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys

It’s been another successful year at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys, with more top grades than previous years.

Twenty students achieved straight A* and A grades, including Adam Sturgeon, head boy, who got an A* and two As, as well as an A* in his EPQ.

He will read law and Spanish at Bristol University. This is in addition to leading the sixth form prefect team this year, which raised more than £5,000 for Demelza Hospice Care for Children.

Simon Marsh, acting headmaster, said: “We are very proud of the achievements of all our students, and wish them all every success for the future.”

Kent College Pembury

With more than 29 A-levels as well as the EPQ on offer, girls at Kent College Pembury did extremely well across the board. In particular, 65% of students got either an A* or an A in maths, and 100% achieved an A*, A, or B in English.

Julie Lodrick, headmistress, said: “In the context of the biggest exam shake-up for a generation, I’m delighted that Kent College has maintained its academic results.

“The staff and I are extremely proud of all the girls, they have worked extremely hard, and thoroughly deserve their success.”

Katie Emanuel, who celebrated getting an A* and two As and will be heading to Manchester to study music, said: “I’m so happy with my results. I’ve had a really good connection with my teachers and I’ve been given so much help.”