Kent students receive A-level results

Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School student Erin Kukkola said she checked her results as soon as she could

Thousands of pupils in Kent have been finding out their A-levels results, as record numbers across the UK made it into their first-choice university.

Across the country, 82% got into the university they wanted, according to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas).

Top A-level results across the whole of England, Wales and Northern Ireland have also risen again – with 28.3% of all grades marked at A and above, up from 27.8% last year.

In Kent that figure was 26.3%, according to government statistics - the same as in 2024.

At Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School, Erin Kukkola was excited to find out she got an A* in art , B in biology and C in physics.

"I checked my results the moment the clock struck eight this morning," she said.

"I was planning to do biology at Leeds and I did get in, so I'm very much looking forward to that".

"I've not got anything ready yet though, so I've lots to do and sort before term starts."

Krishna Dhanani, who got an A* in geography, an A in biology and a B in chemistry, said she is going to do a degree apprenticeship in environmental management.

"The original plan was to go to university to do environmental science at UCL, but then I did a bit of research into degree apprenticeships.

"I thought that that was quite an interesting group because you get paid to do work and also go to uni at the same time.

"I mean I think the experience you get from working and learning on the job is really important, as opposed to just the theoretical experience."

In Kent 26.3% of all grades were marked at A and above

Headteacher Katie Marchant said that, despite a good crop of results, university is "not the be all and end all" for some.

"There'll be something out there for everyone," she said.

"Some will do apprenticeships, others additional college courses or art and drama based stuff .

"The important thing is not to panic, but to think and take time to work out what you want to do.

"Don't just go for something because that's what everyone else is doing."