A RECORD high in the number of A-level passes last night reignited the row over the so called "dumbing down" of exams.

One in five A-level students has achieved a grade A this year while the pass rate has soared to 94.3 per cent - more than four per cent higher than last year.

It has led to fears that if the trend continues, no one will fail the exam in two years time.

Teachers and examiners say the results reflects the hard work of students and the success of the new sixth form curriculum.

But business leaders said that it was fresh evidence that A-levels were easier and less valuable than they were 20 years ago.

Peter Allan, chairman of the Institute of Directors in the North-East, said while congratulating students, yet another record breaking year signalled "rampant grade inflation".

"We must ask ourselves what do we want from A-levels since it is clear that they are becoming increasingly meaningless," he said, as he called on the Government to review the examination system.

The results are the first to come out since the sixth form reforms under Curriculum 2000 where students now take a handful of AS levels in their first year of study before going on to their A-levels, now known as A2s.

They showed girls are continuing to outperform boys in most subjects at both A and AS level. The proportion of female entries awarded A grades went up from 19 per cent to 21.9 per cent, while males managed a 1.1 per cent rise to 19.3 per cent.

At Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington, 1,625 students are celebrating an A-level pass rate of 96.4 per cent compared with 94.3 per cent last year.

Dr John Garmston, the college's vice-principal, said: "The college results continue to exceed national levels.

"This is a reflection of the tremendous hard work and commitment of students and staff.

"There is no evidence to suggest that A-levels are any less demanding - they are still rigorous examinations."

At Independent Yarm School, students have achieved a 100 per cent pass rate, for the first time in the school's history.

Headteacher David Dunn said: "I wouldn't say they are worthless - there's still a big difference between an A, C or an E grade. But as increasing numbers of people get A grades, then it is harder to make distinctions between them."

The rise in passes and A grades came despite a fall in the number of entries from 748,866 to 701,380, suggesting sixth formers were dropping subjects they struggled with at AS level.

There are fears that students are shunning the traditionally difficult subjects of maths and science.

John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said: "The further fall in maths A-level entries should set alarm bells ringing."

* The Northern Echo will publish a regional results service next Wednesday.