Today is a big day for all those who received their GCSE results.

Across Deal, Dover and Sandwich, schools opened up their doors to welcome the pupils back and many have seen a brilliant set of grades.

Goodwin Academy in Deal has seen some brilliant results from its GCSE pupils, some of which will now go on to be the next generation of lawyers, doctors, and nurses.

One of those was Ashley Parfitt, 16, who received an A in history, five Bs and three Cs.

She said: “I’m really pleased. I just really like history. I’m going to stay here for sixth form and go to university in the end.

“Some of the exams were hard but some of them were quite easy as I revised quite a lot.”

Bonnie Price, 16, received an A* in English literature, A in media, C in additional science, B in core science, B in history, B in art, C in maths and a B in English language.

This extensive list of achievements has put her in good stead to study English literature, science and sociology at sixth form.

She said: “I don’t know what I want to be. I just know that I like English.”

Kelsey Coe, 16, was overwhelmed with her brilliant results after getting As in English language, maths, graphics and health and social, a B in science, and a C in English literature.

She said: “I wasn’t expecting such great results. I’m going to sixth form now to study science, biology, health and social and sociology.

“I want to go into medicine as a paramedic in the Royal Navy. I’ve always loved the sea and travelling and I can do that while also helping people in a different way.”

The medicine profession was popular with the many other the pupils at the former Castle Community College.

Maddie Hogben, whose mum is a nurse, said she also wants to go on and do nursing.

The 16-year-old gained seven A to C grades, with two As in English language and history.
She will now study history, psychology and biology at A-level.

She said: “I want to do nursing. I think I just like looking after people and I think it would be a good career.”

Rosie Holt, 16, received three As, three Bs and two Cs, with the As in health and social, English language and history.

She said: “I’m very pleased. I’ll be able to go on to sixth form and hopefully university. I want to be a children’s nurse.

“My auntie is a children’s nurse and I like learning all about the processes of the body and what goes on inside.”

She will study health and social, sociology and media at sixth form.

Dover Grammar School for Boys have had their best set of GCSE results in the school’s history.

The percentage of student achieving five A* to C grades including English and mathematics has increased again on last year to 96%.

Head teacher Fiona Chapman said; “These are our best result for GCSEs since they began in the 1980s. We are absolutely delighted.

“Every performance measure has improved and we are particularly pleased that mathematics yet again has increased further with 99% achieving at least grade C.

“We would like to congratulate all the students on their achievements this year.”

Pupils with outstanding results were Matthew Adams, Truman Hogg, Will Jennings and Paris Tsangarides who gained 11 A*/A grades.

Paris said: “I’m ecstatic but I’m mostly happy because it's over. It was hard work. I’m going on to do A levels and I eventually want to go on to university to study history, that’s my favourite subject.”

Kieran Baker and John Ford got 10 A*/A grades and Jack Bushell, James Mottershead and Daniel Northcott got nine.

Jack said: “I’m really, really happy, I wasn’t sure if I would do this well. I didn’t expect to get so much.”

Owen Esson got two A*s, five As and three Bs.

He said: “This is pretty good but I could I have done better. I was hoping for more A*s obviously but it’s all good.”

The GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exam system began in 1988, replacing the O level and CSE (Certificate of School Education) system.

Staff and students at the non-selective Duke of York’s Royal Military School are celebrating superb results at GCSE with 75% gaining five or more A*-C grades including English and Maths.
Dover College saw its GCSE results improve on last year’s figures with a rise in the top grades.There was also a climb in the number of pupils receiving five passes or more and an increase in the number of points per candidate.The average grades they achieved were nearly one grade higher across all subjects.The independent school says that this demonstrates the results that can be achieved by small class sizes and a personal approach to teaching and learning.The school reported “exceptional” results in key subjects. Of the pupils entered for French or Spanish, 50% achieved an A* and no pupils received a grade lower than a B.A total 80% achieved an A* in French. There were similar high results in Maths and English.Gareth Doodes, Dover College’s Headmaster, explained: “At a time when nationally pupils are achieving lower top level grades we are bucking the national trend and demonstrating that our school is delivering some excellent results, enabling pupils to achieve better grades than they would have done elsewhere.“Combined with the excellent A Level grades from last week, it is clear that academic results at the College are on an upward curve, which is matched by the ever growing interest in the College and the increase of our pupil numbers in the Senior School."

Student Celine Rai was delighted with her 10 GCSE grades, with 6 A*s and 4 As, Chloe Little gained 4 A* s and 2 As and Rimsa Rai achieved 1 A* and 7 As. The excellent results mean nine students have been offered academic scholarships to study A Levels at the school.

Chris Russell, the school’s Executive Principal and Commandant, said: “I am thrilled for our extraordinary students who have done so well and opened doors for their future. Many of them have had a hugely disrupted education, attending very many schools before arriving at DOYRMS. They have embodied the spirit of this unique and iconic school. I am very proud of them.

“The results are testament to the school’s vision of focusing on the development of the whole person by prioritising academic achievement alongside the development of leadership, character and resilience. The mix of sport, Combined Cadet Force, Ceremonial, Duke of Edinburgh, adventure training and the Arts continue to remain at the heart of the School.”

Dover Grammar School for Girls’s stellar GSCE results confirm it as the top performing secondary school in the district.

A fantastic 45% of all results were at the top grades of A* and A, with 49 students gaining five or more A*/A grades including the top grades in English and Maths.

Head teacher Matthew Bartlett said: “We are delighted, not least because this follows swiftly on from our A-level results where we were the top school in East Kent according to the Daily Telegraph.”

Individual successes were many but 12 students achieved in excess of seven straight A* grades with two students breaking all records by achieving 12 A* grades.

They were Shannon Ryan and Olivia Dodge.

Miss Dodge was particularly overjoyed because she had not been predicted to do so well.

She said: “My results have exceeded my predictions and I’m looking forward to staying on here to do A-levels in maths, chemistry, physics and art.”

Kirsten Hayes was another success story. She achieved nine A*s and two As.

Sydney Humphreys collected her results with her mum, Claire, and was delighted to gain As in French, German, science and additional science.

She said: “I was very nervous but once I got here the teachers made it all OK.”

She will remain at the school to study a levels in French, geography, English and psychology.

Natasha Brown wasted no time in calling her family to tell them about her three As, seven Bs and one C.

She said: “I felt sick beforehand but I’ve done better than I thought I had.”

Mr Bartlett added: “We offer our heartfelt congratulations to all our students and thanks to all colleagues and parents who have supported these talented young people.

“We now have started preparations to ensure these successes continue into next year and beyond.”

St Edmund’s RC School in Dover reported its best GCSE results ever.

A total 53% of pupils achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C including English and maths and 56% gained at least English and maths.

Pupils getting 12 A*to C grades were Sally Wood, Wiktoria Sikorska , Amy Biggs, Sarah Becker, Cae Sheaff and Marley Sparkes.

Marley said: “Five of my grades were C and five were Bs. I feel I could have done better and while I got an A in maths I’m gutted that it wasn’t an A*. But I am still quite proud.”

Sally that morning at first found she had six As and two Bs and was waiting to hear if one exam would be remarked, which could earn her a seventh A.

She admitted that she was at first nervous about opening the results envelope. She said: “I didn’t think I would pass maths, which is what I need and so it was a bit scary. But I obviously passed.”

She is now seeking a place at a grammar school sixth form.

Amy Biggs was stunned by her results. She said; “I got an A*, an A and seven B. I can hardly speak, I’m so happy. All that hard work has paid off.”

Those getting 11 A* to C grades were Jade Nunn, Rojer Mathew Matthew Birch, Xander Finnis, Gemma Shirt , Megan Wickendon and Anna Lyons.

Pupils gaining 10 A* to C grades were Ross Manning, Bridie Jackson, Talia Browne and Caitlin Smith.

Ross said: “I got Bs across the board. I am pleased with these results. I was hard work and I am going to Canterbury College”