Students were today celebrating another year of record A-level passes, with the best-performing Sussex schools getting 100 per cent pass rates.

Overall rates, released last night, reveal the 22nd consecutive annual rise in passes nationally, by 1.6 per cent to 96 per cent.

More than a fifth of results were at grade A, with Brighton and Hove outperforming the national average.

Critics have already begun attacking the figures, claiming exams are now too easy.

But for pupils gathering at school gates across the county today, the all-important grades were the outcome of two years of dedicated study.

At Brighton College, pupils began congregating yesterday to give each other moral support.

They and students from Burgess Hill High School and Roedean achieved a 100 per cent pass rate.

Some 81 per cent of Brighton College pupils obtained A and B-grades, five per cent up on last year.

At Roedean, 93 per cent of pupils achieved grades A to C.

Varndean Sixth Form College in Brighton, achieved a pass rate of 98 per cent with 72 per cent of students reaching grades A to C.

Principal Alan Jenkins said: "We are exceptionally pleased, once again, with this year's results.

"Despite the national debate on the A-level curriculum that continues to rage, our students have responded incredibly positively.

"At the risk of agreeing with a Government minister, David Miliband hit the nail on the head in identifying hard-working staff and students as key factors. They all deserve warm congratulations."

Haywards Heath College achieved a 97 per cent pass rate with 71 per cent gaining grades A to C.

Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College was up 0.5 per cent on last year, equalling the national average.

City College Brighton and Hove issued results to 91 students today and recorded an 86 per cent pass rate.

Pupils studying Spanish there achieved 91 per cent A to C-grades.

Elizabeth Wylie, Brighton and Hove City Council's assistant director for children, families and schools, said: "We are overjoyed to hear of the success of Brighton and Hove students and look forward to seeing the full results across the city, both from schools and colleges."

Ardingly College revealed a 98.7 per cent pass rate, with 54.5 per cent at grades A and B.

Headteacher John Franklin said: "More A-grades are being awarded based on quality of work, rather than under the old system where only a certain percentage of A-grades were permitted."

Nationally, the proportion of A-grades increased by 0.8 per cent to 22.4 per cent.

This year's results saw boys fighting back, narrowing the traditional gap between the sexes, particularly in maths, law and psychology.

The number of students choosing so-called soft subjects, such as psychology, sociology and media studies, continued to rise steadily. Religious studies saw the greatest renaissance, with 14,000 candidates, a 13.8 per cent rise attributed by some academics to young people's renewed interest in world faiths post-September 11.

Traditional languages also made a comeback, with Irish and Welsh both in the top ten for increased entries.

Physics and other sciences continued to decline in popularity and there were 16.3 per cent fewer students studying computing this year.

School standards minister Mr Miliband said today's results were the tip of an "education revolution" which was opening up more opportunities for young people.

He urged students to ignore accusations of falling standards, saying: "This is simply a myth. These results are built on the hard work of students, schools and colleges, which merits success."