WITH each new set of exam results, arguments flare over whether school standards are falling or rising. Today's analysis of the GCSE statistics will add more fuel to the fire.

These reveal that the relentless rise in pupils' grades has stalled. For once the Government is not fending off the accusation that exams are "too easy". Instead it faces another problem: the prospect of failing all four of its national school targets for 16-year-olds.

These included the pledge that 92 per cent of pupils would achieve five GCSEs of any grade, including maths and English, by 2004. In fact, the figure has declined to 86.4 per cent this year.

In the light of continued criticism by employers that too many 16-year-old school leavers come to them with a raft of GCSEs but without decent literacy and numeracy skills, that is a blow to education ministers.

Some confusion remains over the future of school exams. This week's Tomlinson review recommended that GCSE and A-levels be replaced by a diploma, but then the Government insisted both would stay.

In which case, ministers would do well to travel here to learn how to improve GCSE grades. York's results have slipped back a little, but are still ahead of the national average.

North Yorkshire, however, stormed to the top of the class with more than 60 per cent of children gaining five or more GCSEs at grades A-C.

That is a terrific performance by pupils and teachers.

Updated: 11:14 Friday, October 22, 2004