Every year, as exams results continue to improve, there is a predictable chorus of wails and moans about standards slipping.

Apart from having little basis on reality, this inevitably denigrates the achievements of young people who worked their socks off and are receiving their hard-earned rewards.

Exam results day is one of the most important occasions in anyone's life and it is right we should celebrate the successes of our young people.

Those clutching a stack of A*s are lauded, and justly so.

However, it is also important to praise pupils such as former "tearaway" Terri Moss, who knuckled down and achieved a welcome set of results.

Terri and everyone else celebrating today should feel proud of what they have done, without the usual heckling about exams getting easier.

Some youngsters will be disappointed but they should realise it is not the end of the world.

So, irrespective of results, The Argus would like to congratulate each and every person who sat their GCSEs and tell them to ignore those whinging in the wings.