THE pass rate at Fulston Manor increased to 99 per cent, up four cent on last year, with 68 per cent gaining a C grade or above.

Three friends at Fulston are all celebrating good results and looking forward to studying at university.

Megan Martin, 18, from Sheerness, surprised herself by getting an A* in English, an A in human biology and a B in music and will study nursing at the University of Brighton.

Adam Marzetti's highest grade was an A* in law, and from September, he will be employed as a student cardio-physiologist at Medway Maritime Hospital while studying clinical physiology at London's City of Westminster College.

The 18-year-old from Sittingbourne said: "It wasn't easy getting an A* but I got there. I'm very happy with my results because it's made me realise I can actually do what I want to do now."

Becky McDonnell, 18, also from Sittingbourne, got a place at the University of Hertfordshire where she will study diagnostic radiography.

She tried logging onto the UCAS website before picking up her results to see whether she'd got on to the course but ended up having to wait until she opened the brown envelope.

She added: "The website crashed about a million times so I had to wait until I got to school. I was so happy, I really didn't think I'd done it. I will be celebrating tonight by going to a barbecue."

Lauren Owen, Roxanne Butcher and Timothy Wetjen also achieved the coveted A* grade.

Head teacher Alan Brookes was particularly pleased that 50 students had been awarded places at university.

He said: "I am extremely proud of both the staff and the students whose hard work and dedication has brought about this success."