Across the country, exam results have been met with jubilation as GCSE results have improved at all grades for the first time in 9 years. The overall pass rate rose from 97.6% of pupils who sat the exams to 97.8%, and 61% of those who passed were awarded grades A* to C - two whole percentage points up on last year.

This year's exams have however seen a drop in students taking modern languages, as languages are no longer compulsory over the age of 14. The Joint Council for General Qualifications has said this is "much to be regretted."

Many pupils are now opting to take the more vocational, new Applied GCSEs which attracted nearly 40,000 more entries this year, a third more than last year. Some schools were yesterday accused of cheating by using vocational exams to boost their placing in GCSE exam league tables.

Some headteachers claim that vocational qualifications in subjects such as media studies and leisure and tourism are being given too much weight - because a single pass is worth four GCSE passes in traditional subjects such as maths, history, French and English. They claim that it distorts the school league tables and gives parents a false impression of a school's performance and pupils' achievements.

But Schools Minister Jacqui Smith is not complacent and is pushing for further GCSE reforms including overhauling English and Maths to ensure top grades involve practical skills.

Business leaders have voiced concerns at the lack of basic workplace skills possessed by school leavers, but the government last year rejected proposals by former chief inspector of schools Mike Tomlinson to replace GCSE and A Level with a new diploma system. Mr Tomlinson, at the time, warned that GCSEs were "failing a generation".

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