GCSE results have shown the biggest increase in top grades since 1999.

Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 59.2% of candidates were awarded grades between A* and C - 1.1% higher than last year.

However, the overall pass rate has stayed the same as last year, with 97.6% achieving grades between A* and G.

Girls out-stripped boys by 5.3% at grades A*- A and by 8.4% at grades A- C.

Around half of candidates - 51 per cent of boys and 53 per cent of girls - achieved a grade C in their GCSE maths. While 53 per cent of boys achieved this in English, girls fared better at 67.1 per cent.

The resulta also showed that fewer students are taking French and German but there has been a rise in the numbers taking subjects such as maths, chemistry and physics.