Jubilant teenagers across Sussex were celebrating their A-level results today as performances improved for the 19th year running.

Head teachers praised their hard-working students and denied the high scores meant exams were getting easier.

The overall pass rate nationally rose by five per cent, from 89.8 per cent to 94.3 per cent, and one in five entrants got an A-grade.

Ten years ago the pass rate was just 79.8 per cent. If the trend continues, no one will fail the exam in 2004.

Pupils at Brighton and Hove High School, in Montpelier Road, Brighton, achieved a best-ever 100 per cent pass rate.

Headmistress Rosalind Woodbridge said: "Students in this year group have been the guinea-pigs for a new, heavily-examined and demanding pattern of sixth form study. They have risen magnificently to the challenge."

Brighton College, in Eastern Road, Brighton, saw a 99 per cent pass rate. The number of A and B grades rose from 81 per cent last year to 89 per cent.

Sarah Heikey gained four As, while Oliver Austin, William Doyne-Ditmas, Hannah Lowe, Daniel Rosen, Adam Naguib and Jion Sheibani all got three As each.

Jion, 18, of Hove, was delighted to score top marks in English, French and Latin A-levels, and an A in AS-level history.

She said: "I was very shaky this morning, with all the worst scenarios racing through my head. So when I saw the results I felt a huge wave of relief. I'm so happy."

Brighton College headmaster Anthony Selden attacked critics such as the Institute of Directors who have claimed exams were being watered down.

He said: "I am increasingly fed up with the annual bleat from pundits who know little or nothing about schools or students talking down the achievements of our young people.

"I know about schools and I know these students very much deserve their grades."

Varndean College, in Surrenden Road, Brighton, scored a 96 per cent pass rate. Leila Tavakoli, 18, got As in English, history, French and biology.

She said: "It hasn't really sunk in properly. I've been having nightmares about getting the results but this feeling is worth it.

"Every year you get people saying exams are easier. My sister did hers eight years ago and I remember it was the same then. It's not fair on students."

Pass rates leapt by 11 per cent - twice the national average - to 71 per cent at City College Brighton and Hove in Pelham Street, Brighton.

Staff and students at St Mary's Hall School in Eastern Road, Brighton, were celebrating a record pass rate of 99 per cent, with 61 per cent of the grades As and Bs.

Headmistress Sue Meek said: "The achievements are particularly impressive as our students have not only excelled academically but also in a wide range of extra-curricular activities."

Amanda Tsui, Rosalyn Robison and Katie Mokhtar each gained four As.

Students at Roedean School in Roedean Way, Brighton, scored an overall pass rate of 99.7 per cent, with 76 per cent As or Bs.

Sandy Kwok and Carmen Chu both gained five grade-As in maths, further maths, physics, chemistry and biology.

Head of chemistry Andrew England said: "This was definitely one of our best years ever, better than last year."

This summer's A-level students were the first to come through the system created by the Government's Curriculum 2000 reforms.

Pupils now take AS-level exams at the end of their first year of study, followed by A-levels a year later.

But despite the record results, concerns have been raised about students facing heavier workloads because of the reforms.

The number of A-level entries fell by six per cent, from 748,000 to 702,000. AS-level entries increased from 794,000 to 995,000.

Wealden MP Charles Hendry has called for AS-levels to be scrapped, blaming them for making students feel they are "exam factories".

But education minister Stephen Twigg said today's results proved the system was working and students should be congratulated.