Thousands of 15 and 16-year-olds across Hertfordshire will collect their GCSE results in the next few hours.
For some, the exams will mark the end of compulsory education and the opportunity to move into work but for others the results will have a bearing on their future educational choices.
Nationally there will be around 600,000 young people are picking up their results.
Last year, the proportion of entrants awarded top grades fell for the first time in the history of GCSEs.
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