Kate Ferdinand is 'super proud' of step-son Tate while Kerry Katona is delighted as daughter Heidi bags top grades as they lead the celebrity parents showing support on GCSE results day

Kate Ferdinand and Kerry Katona led the celebrity parents showing support for their kids on GCSE results day on Thursday.

Hundreds of thousands of teenagers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland opened their GCSE exam results in a year when grades were due to be restored to 2019 levels in all three nations.

And taking to Instagram, Kate shared a picture of 15-year-old step-son Tate's results' envelope and gushed that she's 'super proud' of him.

After wishing everyone 'good luck', she penned: 'Super proud today & everyday, well done for putting in that work. Always knew you could. Love you loads.'

Kate is step-mum to husband Rio Ferdinand's children Tate, Lorenz, 18, and Tia, 13, from his first wife Rebecca Ellison, who tragically passed away in 2015 after a short battle with breast cancer. 

The couple also share son Cree, three, and daughter Shae, 13 months.

Meanwhile, Kerry excitedly shared the moment that daughter Heidi learned of her very grades, declaring that she couldn't of been more proud of her girl. 

Sitting in her car alongside daughters Heidi, 17 - whom she shares with ex Mark Croft - and Molly, 22, from her marriage to Brian McFadden, Kerry told how they'd just come from the school after picking up Heidi's results. 

Gushing over her daughter, she remarked that she 'couldn't be more prouder than what I am right now' before encouraging her daughter to read her grades to the camera. 

Reading aloud, Heidi said she got grades '5,6,5,7,7,7,7', which is the equivalent of four As, one B and two Cs.

The grading system changed from A*-G to 9-1 from 2017, depending on the subject. A 1 is equivalent to a G, a 4 is equivalent to a C, a 7 is equivalent to an A. Both systems have U for ungraded. 

Kerry and Molly then cheered and clapped, as the former Atomic Kitten singer shouted: 'All those 7s! Honest to God, I am so bloody proud!'

Sharing a supportive message for other teenagers on the day, Kerry continued: 'Each and every one of you people right now who are getting your results, don't be defined by that number! It doesn't really matter, that's my opinion! 

'But well done everybody, Heidi I'm so proud of you right now!'

The star then joked to a delighted Heidi that she will now buy her something 'very expensive', while Molly keen to get a treat too, Molly quipped that she'd taken her GSCE's before being reminded that she was almost 23. 

Heidi's impressive results comes just months after mum Kerry revealed why she is refusing to pay for her to go to a private sixth form school.

The singer, who herself left school at 16 to tour Europe as a lap dancer before finding fame in Atomic Kitten, told how the then 16-year-old was now at a crossroads with her schooling with Kerry having to make some big choices.

She told how she was reluctant to fork out the cash for the expensive education as Heidi is 'not in school enough as it is' and also 'hates it'. 

Elsewhere, Traitors winner Harry Clarke shared a snap of his younger sister holding up her results as he wished her a 'massive congratulations' on her big day.  

It comes after Kirstie Allsopp and Jamie Oliver shared inspiring messages of hope and support for GCSE results day.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, on the big day, Kirstie noted that the reaction of parents will make a huge difference to their children as she spoke of the importance on holding back their emotions.

The presenter, 59, tweeted: 'These are not our exam results they are theirs, so do wait for your child’s reaction to their GCSE results before you jump up looking happy or sad, how we react will matter and could make a difference, but the rest of their life is not defined by these grades, this to shall pass.'

While Kirstie, who recently came under fire for allowing her 15-year-old interrail across Europe for three weeks, mostly garnered positive responses, there was one follower who hit out at her for 'preaching' to people.

They wrote: 'Please stop preaching what people should do. You’re an out of touch elitist trapped in a privileged bubble and know nothing about the real world. Sincerely, Everyone.'

The star was clearly not impressed by the criticism as she response: 'Do eff off.' 

Meanwhile, Jamie Oliver shared an inspiring message about not letting results 'define you' as he opened up about his struggles with Dyslexia growing up.

The chef, 49, was himself diagnosed with dyslexia in primary school and has previously been candid about his experience with the condition.

Jamie penned: 'Huge luck to everyone receiving their GCSE results today....I hope you get the grades you want. And if you don’t then please believe me when I say it’s not the end of the world and it doesn’t need to define you either !!

'I’ve learnt that first hand being dyslexic and it’s why my Billy children’s books hold such a special place in my heart. What it does mean is that you might need to find a different way to get where you want to be....and you know what it’s fun to be unconventional!! 

'Intelligence comes in many forms and I (and Billy!) have every faith that the wider world will see your brilliance just like I do x x x.'

Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects accurate and fluent word reading and spelling, which affects individuals of all intelligence levels and can result in poor or inconsistent spelling and writing. 

Alongside his kind words, Jamie posted a picture of himself posing in a promotional shot for his books.

Elsewhere, Saira Khan shared her joy and pride as her son Zachariah, 16, picked up his results on Thursday.

The former Loose Women star shared a selection of photos of her boy holding up his results and cuddling up to loved ones on his big day.

Sharing a heartfelt message, she penned: 'So proud of my boy - all his own effort. Well done to everyone who got their results today.

'Please do celebrate your efforts - it’s not easy taking exams - but you did it.

'Next steps 6th Form to study Maths, Further Maths, Economics and Theology. A great milestone reached today. Time to celebrate.'

The proportion of GCSE entries awarded top grades has fallen for the third year in a row but is higher than before the pandemic, national figures show, as the final cohort of the Covid generation receive their results. 

More than a fifth (21.8 percent) of UK GCSE entries were awarded the top grades - at least a 7 or an A grade - this year, down 0.2 percentage points on last year.

This is higher than the equivalent figure for 2019 - before the pandemic disrupted schooling - of 20.8 percent. Most of the students receiving results today were in year 7 at the start of the pandemic.

This summer's exams saw a record number of GCSE grades awarded, an increase on 2023 of 4.8 percent, or more than 6.1 million - compared with a 4.6 percent increase in the number of 16-year-olds.

More than 372,000 Vocational Technical Qualifications, or VTQs, were also awarded, taking the overall number of results to more than 6.5 million. 

The rise was partly driven by an increase in the number of students aged 17 or older taking exams, particularly in Maths and English Language. 

The figures, published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), cover GCSE entries from students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The proportion of entries getting at least a 4 or a C grade - considered a 'standard pass' - has fallen from 68.2 percent in 2023 to 67.6 percent this year - a drop of 0.6 percentage points, but higher than 67.3 percent in 2019.

The overall rate for grades 1/G or above is 97.9 percent, down from 98.0 percent in 2023 and 98.3 percent in 2019.

In England, exams regulator Ofqual said it expected this year's national results to be 'broadly similar' to last summer, when grades were brought back in line with pre-pandemic levels.

In Wales and Northern Ireland, exam regulators aimed to return to pre-pandemic grading this summer - a year later than in England.