There's good news for parents and pupils in the GCSE results which have been announced this week.

More pupils have taken more exams and achieved higher standards than ever before in the tests for 15 and 16-year-olds.

Although public schools have generally achieved excellent results, the best state schools have shown they can compete.

Girls are still ahead of boys but the gap is narrowing, providing a welcome indication the laddish culture of not working hard at school may be on the wane.

Among the most heart-warming successes were those of two Hove Park School pupils, Ian Martin and Rachel Birrell, who were both badly injured in a road accident days after their last exam.

The exams, which replaced O levels, are now becoming accepted as a good general test for pupils either about to leave school or to go on and take A levels.

There is a slight concern the continued increase in standards may be as much down to easier marking than to increased achievement.

But numerous passes at the three highest grades are a definite sign to pupils, employers and sixth form tutors of real hard work coupled with ability.