Months of waiting came to an end yesterday when hundreds of teenagers across Sussex were given their GCSE results.

It was another record year for the pupils and figures showed that girls have outstripped boys again in the exams.

The number of students gaining five or more GCSEs at grades A* to C in Brighton and Hove has gone up compared to last year and pupils at Hove Park School and Longhill School did particularly well.

Lewes Tertiary College was celebrating its best GCSE results since opening ten years ago after results showed a five per cent improvement on 1999.

But as the students clamoured around the school gates yesterday it was individual achievements that were important.

At Hove Park School, in Nevill Road, Lisa Springgay, Mark Critchard and Philip Sheriff each gained 11 A* and A grades. Overall the school's results showed an increase of 9.3 per cent in the number of pupils gaining five or more GCSE grades A* to C. The figure was 53.3 per cent this year.

Students who did particularly well include Susan Simkin who gained ten A* and A grades and Robert Blake, Alistair Gavan, Suzanne Kidd and Daniel Rosen who each gained nine A* and A grades.

It was a day of mixed emotions at East Brighton College of Media Arts.

GCSE results dipped on last year's with 13 per cent of students achieving five of more grades A* to C.

Overall 62 per cent of college pupils achieved five or more grades A* to G.

Despite the drop, acting principal Clive Frost said the results were a credit to the pupils who had worked hard through a year hampered by difficulties.

Rachel Sharp and Clair Standing, both 16, were celebrating after they picked up their grades from the college in Wilson Avenue yesterday morning.

Clair, of Haybourne Road, Brighton, did better than her teachers predicted by gaining nine A to C grades including an A in technology. Next month she starts a GNVQ course in design at Brighton College of Technology.

At Falmer School in East Brighton, Paul Murrell achieved ten GCSEs at grade A* or A.

Headteacher Antony Edkins said: "We are delighted with our results which are better than predicted.

"This is the first time a Falmer student has achieved ten GCSEs with A grades."

At Lewes Tertiary College an impressive 70 per cent of passes were at grade A* to C across 23 subjects. More than a third of those subjects offered at the college now hold a 100 per cent pass rate A* to C.

The principal, Henry Ball, said: "On top of our best A-level results again this year, these intermediate results clearly confirm that the college's powerful commitment to a strategy of continuous quality improvement is succeeding."

At Cardinal Newman School in Hove, 60 per cent of students got five or more grades A to C, up five per cent on 1999, 24 per cent got 10 or more grades A to Cs and 79 per cent got five or more grades A to G.

Headteacher Peter Evans said: "The interesting thing is, given the national position, our girls and boys were almost exactly the same.

"Right the way across the year group the students did very well."

Pupils at Blatchington Mill School in Hove improved on the school's results of last year, 260 of the 262 students taking GCSEs were successful in at least one subject and 94 per cent managed five or more passes. The number who achieved five passes at grades A* to C was 53 per cent.

Headteacher Neil Hunter praised the hard work of his pupils, staff and support of parents for the results. He said: "We're very pleased with the results of not only the high achievers but also those who aren't so able but who worked hard and for whom Ds and Es are a great success."

At Varndean School the overall percentage of pupils gaining five or more GCSEs grades A* to C was 53 per cent.

For boys at the Balfour Road School the figure was 55 per cent.

At Ringmer Community College students were celebrating 62 per cent of them gaining five passes at grade C or above. The figure leapt to 96 per cent for those with five passes or more.

Principal Steve Johnson said: "Ringmer pupils worked hard for these results and deserve our congratulations."

Pat Hawkes, lead councillor for school effectiveness on Brighton and Hove Council, said: "Results are improving in Brighton and Hove and will get better. They have been achieved through hard work and commitment.

"We congratulate the students and teachers for this achievement."

Brighton College is celebrating 58 per cent of GCSE passes at A* or A grades this summer, a record for the school.

Headmaster Anthony Seldon said: "The results our students have achieved this year are fantastic and a terrific credit to them."

At single-sex Roedean School in Brighton, 97 per cent of the girls gained eight or more GCSEs at grades A* to C.

Alexandra Thompson from Hove came out top of her year with 10 A* grades and one A.