The number of students awarded top grades at GCSE has risen for the second year in a row despite a major government overhaul to make the qualifications more difficult.

Grades were awarded in the first tougher GCSEs, maths and English, in 2017 - with a further 20 reformed subjects last summer. Students received numerical grades in a further 25 subjects this year.

The new GCSEs, which are now graded 9 to 1 rather than A* to G, have less coursework and a greater focus on exams at the end of two years.

Just 837 teenagers scored a clean sweep of the highest grade in their GCSEs this summer, with more girls achieving straight top grades than boys.

This summer's clean sweep figure is up from 732 16-year-olds in 2018, the figures from Ofqual show.