The wait is finally over for thousands of nervous teenagers across Camden, Barnet, Haringey and Westminster who pick up their A-level results today.

The Ham&High’s website will keep anxious pupils and proud parents up-to-date with results statistics, analysis and reaction on our live blog and in our special A-level results day coverage.

Social media users can tweet their pictures and comments by using our Twitter handle @HamandHigh and the hashtag #Alevelresults2014.

Alternatively, email us at pictures@hamhigh.co.uk.

See next week’s Ham&High for full coverage and a special eight-page supplement.

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4.35pm

That’s it from us today on the Ham&High’s A-levels liveblog, but please keep Tweeting and emailing us your pictures, stories and results.

Stories of success will go online tomorrow, while next week’s Ham&High will have full coverage and a special eight-page supplement.

There have been many happy faces in Camden, Haringey, Barnet and Westminster’s schools today - the Ham&High would like to congratulate every student who picked up A-level or AS-level results today. We hope you celebrate in style!

4.25pm

Barnet’s education chief Cllr Reuben Thompstone, said he is “proud” of what Barnet schools can offer people living in the borough.

The chairman of the children, education, libraries and safeguarding Committee, added: “I am delighted to see that once again Barnet pupils are delivering excellent A-level results.

“These results are due to the hard work and dedication of all our students, teachers as well as the whole school community.

“My congratulations go to all those students who have achieved the results they need to progress toward their future goals.

“We know that our high quality schools are one of the many reasons why people choose to live in Barnet and these results prove once again that we are right to be proud of our educational offer.”

4.15pm

Regent High School, in Somers Town, reports a significant increase in the number of top grades today.

More pupils achieved A* and A grades than last year and 70 per cent have scored A* to C grades.

Headteacher Rosemary Leeke said: “I am thrilled that our students have achieved such excellent results, which have allowed them to secure places on their chosen courses of study in higher education.

“In particular, I am delighted by the increase in the proportion of top grades they have achieved.

“The results are a tribute to the hard work and resilience of the students and their dedicated teachers, and have been achieved despite the challenges of studying amidst a large-scale building project.”

Students Jade Haggett and Tali Drumgoon have won places at the prestigious Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design to sit art foundation courses.

- Percentage entries A*-A grade: 15 (10 in 2013)

- Percentage entries A*-C grade: 70 (60 in 2013)

- Percentage entries A*-E grade 2014: 96 (97 in 2013)

4pm

Camden’s A-level students have bucked national grade averages in the borough today.

Nearly 79 per cent achieved A* to C grades, compared with the national average of 76.5 per cent.

The proportion of A* to B grades was also slightly higher than the national average, with 52.4 per cent scooping the top grades compared with 52.2 per cent nationally.

The borough’s pass rate stands at 98.3 per cent, while nationally 98 per cent got A* to E grades.

3.45pm

The number of A* and A grades at Maria Fidelis Catholic School, in Somers Town, has rocketed since 2013.

The school is celebrating a number of student success stories, with many gaining places at some of the country’s top universities, including the University of Warwick, London School of Economics and the University of Edinburgh.

Tebian Ali scored the school’s highest grades with an outstanding four A*s, two As and one B.

- Percentage entries A*-A grades = 21 (9.4 in 2013)

- Percentage of pupils who achieved A*-E 2014 = 97 (99 in 2013)

3.30pm

Camden School for Girls, in Kentish Town, is celebrating some of its best ever A-level results, with half of all pupils getting A* or A grades.

Headteacher Elizabeth Kitcatt said: “We are thrilled with this year’s A-level results, with our students achieving the school’s best-ever percentages of passes at higher grades.

“This is down to the hard work and commitment of students and their teachers, as well as the support of parents. Our teachers never gave up on anybody and a great deal of work went into helping individual students to achieve their best.”

- Percentage entries A*-A grade: 50 (45 in 2013)

- Percentage entries A*-B grade: 83 (76 in 2013)

3.15pm

Results are in from Haverstock School, in Chalk Farm:

- Percentage entries A*-A grade: 9 (9)

- Percentage entries A*-C gradee: 65 (65)

- Percentage entries A*-E grade: 100 (98)

2.11pm

See our photo gallery of students picking up their A-level results in Camden, Haringey, Barnet and Westminster today. Congratulations everyone, some amazing stories of success coming through from local schools today.

2pm

Schools have nearly emptied now after the frantic rush to pick up results this morning.

Cllr Angela Mason, Camden Council’s cabinet member for children has praised the hard work of teachers and support of parents across Camden.

She said: “Despite a shifting national landscape, Camden’s results remain strong with our students and sixth forms performing above the national average in many instances.

“There are good news stories right across Camden, and many of our students have performed incredibly well.

“It is testimony, again, to the quality and hard work of our teachers and the support of parents in our Camden schools.

“I would like to congratulate everyone who received their results today and wish them well for the future, whether that means university, an apprenticeship or the first steps towards a successful career.”

12.19pm

Highgate Wood School in Crouch End, Haringey, has just announced its results, another fantastic year for pupils.

83 per cent of all papers examined achieved an A* to C grade, with over half of entries receiving an A*, A or B grade.

- Percentage entries A*-C grade: 83

- Percentage entries A*-B grade: 53

Headteacher Patrick Cozier said: “I am excited by the wide range of degree options our students have chosen that will prepare them for challenging and exciting futures.

“We are certainly proud of them all for achieving such wonderful results and wish them well. I am also very pleased for my hard working staff who have done so much to get the best out of our students. The success of our students is the best reward possible for their endeavors”.

Students at the school have won places at Russell Group universities including Manchester, Bristol, Sheffield, Leeds, Birmingham and Nottingham, King’s College London, and University College London.

Sussex University is this year’s destination of choice with 10 Highgate Wood students taking places to study a range of courses from modern history and economics to criminology and art history to American studies.

The school has a dedicated clearing advisor for students.

Mr Cozier said: “For those students who have missed the grades they had hoped for we have a dedicated clearing advisor in school to help those who need it get into the clearing system.

“The much publicised changes in university offers and fees means that students should very carefully consider their options and specialist advice should give all those that need it the best chance of finding the right course for their future plans.”

12.13pm

Channing School in Highgate has congratulated pupils on their A-level results this year.

Headteacher Barbara Elliott said: “Congratulations to all our Year 13 girls who have achieved excellent A-level results, with almost 92 per cent of grades A*-B.

“I am particularly proud of the girls who have been with us since the junior school: Fran Lawrenson is off to Cambridge to read law, and Alison Mansfield and Olivia Kent to read medicine.

“Emma Collins and Hannah Poole achieved all A* grades, with Hannah about to take up her place at Oxford to read physics. “

11.47am

News just in from Hampstead School in Camden. The school says its sixth form students have performed in the top two per cent nationally bucking trends for a second consecutive year.

- Percentage entries A*-A: 18.82 (18.14 in 2013)

- Percentage entries A*-C: 66.66 (72.57 in 2013)

- Percentage of pupils A*-E: 100 (100 in 2013)

- Average UCAS points achieved: 219.10

Among the many success stories Dayana Daneva achieved one A* and three A grades in government and politics, English literature, history and Russian, and has secured herself a place at King’s College London to read law.

Fellow student Matthew Lyster received one A* and two A grades in government and politics, history and geography, and is also heading to King’s College London to read international politics.

Nearly half of students achieved A*-B grades, 20 per cent of which were at A* and A grade.

This follows Hampstead School’s recognition earlier in the year as being in the top two per cent of sixth forms and colleges in the country for the progress that students make in post 16 studies.

Headteacher Jacques Szemalikowski said “We are very proud of our students and staff and the grades that have been achieved.

“These results are a reflection of the hard work that has gone into ensuring individual students have the best possible life chances as they now embark on the next stage of their lives”.

11.44am

Nowadays, most pupils seem to know their results from email or the internet before they arrive at the school gates, but not Jack Benda.

The 18-year-old, from Willesden Green, turned off his phone so he would have no inkling until safely within the confines of University College School.

“I didn’t want to know until I had a teacher’s shoulder to cry on,” he said.

There was no need for that though. With two A* and two As, Jack was another UCS pupil to get into Cambridge, where he will study English literature and language.

11.30am

First success story of the day just in from UCL Academy in Swiss Cottage, Camden.

The school has sent huge congratulations to Brahim Mansour who achieved three A*s in biology, chemistry and mathematics.

Brahim is going on to University College London to study for a chemistry masters. He hopes to one day find a cure for cancer.

11.23am

Highgate School pupil Riaz Razaq was overjoyed to gain his preferred university place, despite just missing out on the required grades.

Durham University wanted at least one A*, but was ultimately happy to accept Riaz’s three As in Russian, French and geography.

Riaz said: “I didn’t get my grades but they still let me in – that was a bit of a shock but it’s brilliant.”

The 18-year-old, who lives in Hornsey, is going to study geography, which he says is his “passion”.

Of his future career, he told the Ham&High: “I want to do something environmental, to do with climate change.

“I’m really fascinated with weather and the environment.”

11.07am

Full results from South Hampstead High School in Camden, just in:

- Percentage entries A*-A: 66.7 (64.2 in 2013)

- Percentage entries A*-C: 99.1 (98.9 in 2013)

- Percentage of pupils A*-E: 100 (100 in 2013)

- Average UCAS points achieved: 410 (409 in 2013)

10.59am

More reports that not everyone receiving their A-level results this morning is going to university.

Jessica Black, 18, at Henrietta Barnett School in Hampstead Garden Suburb, told the Ham&High: “I want to get a job quickly so I can have some financial security.

“I do better when I’m not in academia anyway. I learn better in a more active environment. I want to eventually be a musician.”

For someone who says they aren’t academic, Jessica did very well with the following grades, Spanish A*, French A, History B, Chemistry D.

“Apart from the chemistry, I’m very happy,” she said. “Time for drinks and a barbecue.”

10.54am

Reaction coming through from students at LaSwap sixth form consortium in Camden to their A-level results this morning.

Anil Onurcan, 18, of Mansfield Road, Gospel Oak, is delaying uni for a year for an accounting apprenticeship.

He got a B grade in maths, C in economics and is studying AS-level business and finance, which he will complete next year.

Anil says: “It’s going to help me stand out from the crowd. Not many people have experience after they leave university so it’s a big advantage.”

10.46am

Sam White, headteacher of La Swap sixth form consortium in Camden, confirms that A-levels results have fallen slightly this year.

“A-levels are slightly down on last year in line with the national picture. There’s room for us to improve but we have strong AS-levels which will come through next year.

“The message we had was that there will be a decline in higher grades but we’ve got to remember that La Swap takes in a wide range of abilities and student make good progress from GCSEs to A-levels.

“A-levels are tougher than they’ve ever been, so the students have done really well.”

10.30am

Year 13 students from King Alfred School in Golders Green, Barnet, are in high spirits today following news of their A-level results.

- Percentage A*-A grades: 39 (41 in 2013)

- Percentage A*-B grades: 65 (74 in 2013)

- Perentage A*-C grades: 86 (92 in 2013)

- Percentage of pupils A*-E grades: 99 (100 in 2013)

Headteacher Dawn Moore said: “The students should be incredibly proud of their hard work.

“These are a very pleasing set of results and once again the majority will have a place at their chosen universities.

“What is particularly impressive is the way the students handled themselves during exam time.

“They were calm and focused yet continued to enjoy the extra-curricular activities on offer.

“This is a real testament to the warm, nurturing environment of our sixth form and the quality of teaching.”

The schools top three performing students were:

Mackenzie Dearsley who achieved three A* grades to secure a place to read politics and criminology at Manchester University.

Jim Blundell achieved two A*s and one A grade, and will go on to study history at University College London.

Olivia Williams achieved two As and one A* grade and will read French and Portuguese at Oxford University. Olivia said: “I am so so happy! I have waited for this day for a very long time!”

10.13am

Identical twins Rheeya and Shreeya Naik, both 18, from Henrietta Barnett School in Hampstead Garden Suburb were overjoyed this morning as they received exactly the same results, for exactly the same subjects, to go on to exactly the same university, to study exactly the same degree.

They want to study dentistry at King’s. Why do they want to become dentists? They both told the Ham&High: “We’re so similar in every way - except for our teeth. And we find that really interesting.”

10.03am

News just in from South Hampstead High School in Camden with its A-level results for this year.

More than 30 per cent of exams were graded A*, an increase of 8.4 per cent from last year.

The school’s percentage of A grades is also up, meaning that over two thirds of results are at A*-A grade.

Almost 10 per cent of South Hampstead girls achieved straight A*s, and many more straight As.

Headteacher Helen Pike said: “The girls have all worked so hard and we are delighted at their well-deserved success.

“I am particularly proud of the number of A*-A grades attained, to increase that percentage when UCAS warned of a 5 per cent drop in the top grades is particularly impressive.

“I would like to congratulate all of the girls on their considerable achievements and wish them all the very best in their future endeavours.”

9.31am

Full results from University College School in Hampstead, Camden, just in. Here are the breakdowns:

- Percentage entries A*-A pass rate: 70 (64.8 in 2013)

- Percentage entries A*-B: 93 (89.2 in 2013)

- Percentage entries A*-C: 98.4 (93.3 in 2013)

- Percentage pupils A*-E: 100 (100 in 2013)

This year’s top achievers include Alex Smith, Oliver Tesh and Marc Huttman who each obtained four A*s.

Half of the schools 152 A-level pupils achieved three A grades or better and 30 pupils secured four A grades or higher.

Among the stories of success was Christopher White, who secured two A* and one A grade and was praised for his contribution to UCS drama over the years.

He directed a production of Pinter’s The Birthday Party and a production of Hamlet at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Chris will take-up a place at Oxford to study a double honours course in classics and English in September.

Fredrick Waxman, who achieved two A* and one A grade, has also secured a place at Oxford to study psychology and philosophy. He was also granted a choral scholarship.

9.22am

UCL Academy in Swiss Cottage, Camden, wishes its students luck with results today, via Twitter: “Wishing all our students the best of luck in their A and AS results today! Well done for all your hard work.”

9.10am

It’s a nail-biting morning! One nervous pupil waiting for her results at Henrietta Barnett School in Hampstead Garden Suburb tells our Ham&High reporter: “If I don’t get the 3 As I need I’ll blame Michael Gove.”

The former education secretary lost his position in a cabinet reshuffle in July following a controversial four years in office.

8.54am

The leader of Camden Council, Cllr Sarah Hayward has posted on her Twitter account: “Good luck to Camden’s A-level students. I’m off to Camden School for Girls to see how they’ve done there.”

8.35am

The headteacher of Highgate School in Haringey has said he is pleased the national debate about A-level results has diverted away from “the sensationalist attention to league tables” as he congratulates this year’s students.

The school praised Highgate’s leavers for “reaching for the stars” with more than half of students (84) receiving one or more A* grade.

14 pupils got a full house of three or four A* grades.

- Percentage of A* grades: 28

- Percentage A*-A grades: 73.8 (65.3 in 2013)

- Percentage A*-B grades: 92.6

- Percentage A*-C grades: 96.8 (96.6 in 2013)

- Percentage pupils A*-E grades: 100 (99.8 in 2013)

Highgate School headteacher Adam Pettitt said: “I am delighted with, and proud of, this group of young people and their A-level results.

“While it’s true that not everything that is counted really counts, and not everything that counts is counted, these strong results really matter to leavers and are a cause for celebration.’

He added: “I am pleased that the national debate about results has taken on board the skewed priorities which sensationalist attention to league tables can create.

“We must focus on what remains with school leavers once the exams are over: knowledge and skills which they can put to use at university and in work; attitudes and a frame of mind which will make them productive and employable; imagination and versatility which will enable them to innovate and to challenge.

“So, well done thus far, Class of 2014: now prove that the study and commitment in and beyond the classroom have paid off!”

Follow all the news from the school on Highgate’s Twitter page or Facebook page

8.23am

A-level students at University College School in Hampstead, Camden, have achieved the second best ever results in the history of the school.

70 per cent of A-level exams were graded at A*-A, 93 per cent at A*-B and half this year’s cohort of students achieved at least three A grades.

Headmaster Mark Beard said: “In a year when A-level results are predicted to fall nationally, our pupils have bucked the trend and accomplished top results while also enriching the life of the school through tremendous contributions to music, drama, art and sport.

“I would also like to thank our staff for their never-ceasing efforts and UCS parents for their support this year.”

UCS is particularly proud of Alex Smith, Oliver Tesh and Marc Huttman for obtaining a clean sweep of four A*s this year.

20 UCS pupils have won places at Oxbridge colleges.

8.10am

The leader of Haringey Council, Cllr Claire Kober, has congratulated all of the borough’s A-level students as they receive their results today.

Read her full blog here: COMMENT: ‘I’ve no doubt this year’s A-level results will be great’7.55am

Henrietta Barnett School in Hampstead Garden Suburb, Barnet, has congratulated all of its students on another set of outstanding A-level results this year.

95 per cent of girls gained A*-B grades, and 39 per cent of grades were at A*, an increase of six per cent on last year.

80 per cent of pupils gained A*-A grades, an increase of three per cent on last year, and 73 pupils (just over 60 per cent) achieved A* or A grades in at least three subjects.

13 girls achieved all A* grades and 23 have won Oxbridge places this year.

Acting headteacher, Mandy Watts, said: “Yet again, at a time when sustaining outstanding results and making comparisons with previous years is increasingly difficult, as the nature and form of assessment is in the process of considerable change, we are delighted that our students and their teachers have risen to the challenges facing them this summer to see a further improvement on the already highly impressive standards of last year.”

7am

Alexandra Park School in Muswell Hill, Haringey, has achieved its best ever A-level results, deputy headteacher Dan Silverman confirmed this morning.

This year 132 Year 13 pupils at the school sat A2 exams:

- Percentage of A*-B grades: 60.4 (52.6 in 2013)

- Percentage of A*-C grades: 85.7 (82.2 in 2013)

- Percentage of A-E grades: 99.8 (98.3 in 2013)

- Average UCAS entry point per entry: 97.8 (95.6 in 2013)

“This is particularly pleasing given that our previous years’ results were very strong,” said Mr Silverman.

Students will be in school to collect their results from 9.30am this morning.

Special mention goes to 19 Alexandra Park students who achieved three or more A*/A grades.