Students in South East receive GCSE exam results

She achieved a Grade 4 in English and Maths, and is due to start a degree before going on to teach secondary school Business Studies.

She said: “I realised my true passion lay in helping others grow.

“I wanted a career driven by purpose – one where I could bring my real world experience in leadership, consumer behaviour, and organisational strategy into the classroom to make learning engaging and relevant.”

Gurjit Kaur Shergill, the principal at Leigh Academy Ebbsfleet, was welcoming all of her students to the school on Thursday morning – despite the results being available on an app .

She told BBC Radio Kent: “There will be lots of nerves, from teachers as well, but we are excited to share the news with them.

“If they are with us, we can guide them on their next steps and the pathways they want to take.

“It’s important for them to share the moment with us. We’ve been on the journey with them for the last few years.”

The overall GCSE pass rate across the UK has remained stable – with 67.3% of all grades across England, Wales and Northern Ireland at 4/C and above, down 0.1% from the previous year.

The proportion of top grades – marked at 7/A or above – has also remained steady, rising very slightly from 21.9% last year to 22% this year.