OVERALL GCSE pass rates have fallen this year - but the number of students getting top grades has increased, it was revealed last night.

More than 600,000 pupils across the country will pick up their grades today.

But the results sparked fears that the gap is widening between bright and less able students.

The proportion of entries awarded grades A to G dropped 0.3 per cent to 97.6 per cent, figures for Wales, England and Northern Ireland showed, but there was a 0.2 per cent rise in the numbers given the top four grades.

The falling A to G pass rate sparked concern that the trend was likely to continue until more money was made available to reduce class sizes.

Headteachers warned this year's budget crisis made that unlikely.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads' Association, said: "Further substantial improvements in GCSE results depend in the short-term on the availability of funding to pay for smaller classes for those getting lower grades."

Boys managed to narrow the gap slightly with girls. The proportion of entries from girls graded C and above stayed the same at 62.4 per cent, while it rose by 0.2 per cent to 53.6 per cent for boys.

Education Secretary Charles Clarke acknowledged that he faced "real challenges" with GCSEs.

The biggest appeared to be maths, as the proportion of entries awarded A to C-grades fell 1.1 per cent to 50.2 per cent.

In the North-East, early indications from a handful of schools showed continued improvement.

Hurworth School, near Darlington, got a 70 per cent pass rate for grades A* to C - the highest ever recorded by a state school under the control of Darlington Borough Council.

Private girls school Teesside High, near Stockton, notched up a 100 per cent pass rate at grades A*-C.