Shrewd pupils, aided by their teachers, are opting for "easier" subjects where they know they will stand a better chance of getting an A-grade pass. The big question that the Tomlinson inquiry into exam reform should face is how to ensure a common standard across all A-level subjects.The "hidden scandal", Mr Dunford said, is shown in the rise in the number of students opting for subjects such as psychology (up 21.2 per cent this year), law (up 20.6 per cent) and media, film and television studies (up 19.9 per cent).There is also a drop in entries for subjects perceived by teachers to be difficult. Physics is down 3 per cent, chemistry 1.5 per cent and biology 0.8 per cent. The girls continue to outperform the boys."Professor Alan Smithers, from the University of Liverpool, said the girls' advantage came from the new A-level structure."A-levels are now modular courses with assessment after every unit, often by coursework, which require the sort of consistency girls are good at."Doug McAvoy, leader of the National Union of Teachers, said the divide needed thorough investigation."It is not sufficient just to cite laddish behaviour," he said.. Maths had 35,206 entries from boys against 20,711 from girls; physics had 23,595 boys to 6,988 girls' entries and computing 20,714 boys and 7,461 girls.John Milner, convener of the Joint Council for General Qualifications that publishes the exam results, said the continuing gender divide would give exam boards "food for thought and research"."The subject entries are greater from the girls than the boys.

Almost 23 per cent of girls' entries were graded A compared with 20 per cent of boys', and 96.4 per cent of girl candidates passed compared with 94.3 per cent of boys.Most A-level entries came from girls, although there are around 20,000 more boys than girls in each year of the UK's 17 and 18-year-olds.Female students now outperform their male classmates in every A-level subject apart from English, French, German, Spanish and Religious Studies.However, boys dominated maths and science subjects. Girls extended their advantage over boys in this summer's A-levels despite a Government attempt to eradicate "laddish behaviour" and encourage boys to work harder at school. The magazine has already had to pay damages to the woman who claimed the photos were of her. Just three weeks ago, Mr Guccione settled out of court with Ms Kournikova. The sum was undisclosed but is likely to have been substantial.Oddly, the straw that broke the back of Penthouse, the pioneer of public pubic hair, may have been to publish the sort of topless photos that appear in our tabloids every day.RISE AND FALL OF A PORNOGRAPHY PIONEER1965 'Penthouse' published by Bob Guccione in London as downmarket rival to 'Playboy'1969 Published in United States for first time; soon becomes first mainstream magazine to show pubic hair1970s Reaches peak circulation of five million1979 Mr Guccione launches disastrous and expensive attempt at erotic film, 'Caligula', featuring leading British actors.1982 British edition published by Northern & Shell, owned by Richard Desmond. Deal ends in 1990s.1984 Runs a pictorial of the first black woman to hold the Miss America title, Vanessa Williams, prompting her resignation. The issue generated a $14m profit, the highest in its history.1998 Monica Lewinsky rejects $2m offer to pose.2002 Sued by the tennis player Anna Kournikova for wrongly claiming topless pictures were of her; the 'real' woman also sues.2003 'Penthouse' publishers file for bankruptcy protection..

In 1997, Mr Guccione's wife, Kathy Keeton, died from breast cancer. For many years, Mr Guccione had relied upon Ms Keeton, a former dancer he found reading the Financial Times in a nightclub, for the fiscal management of his empire.Mr Guccione was, reportedly, bereft and retreated into his mansion, surrounded by his art and his bodyguards. But as the debts mounted and without Ms Keeton's advice, things went from bad to worse.Last year, Penthouse published what it wrongly claimed were topless pictures of the tennis star Anna Kournikova. Crucially, there was less embarrassment for men as they bought them in the newsagents.

Penthouse's internet site has also been plagued by technical problems."The video porn industry managed to migrate to the internet and it found new ways to market itself, so it has survived," said Laurence O'Toole Mr Guccione made Penthouse even more explicit. Both Penthouse and Playboy managed to carve out a small niche in the massive 1980s boom in the porn video industry but both were unable to compete with internet and its access to hardcore material. Mr Desmond used the expertise gained to launch his own series of even more downmarket and explicit magazines, such as Asian Babes. The money he made would later help buy Express Newspapers.The 1990s were a bad time for Mr Guccione, who appeared left behind as censorship laws eased and pornography became more acceptable, with even celebrities such as comedian David Baddiel boasting of their porn-buying habits. Another $60m, plus $200m of other people's money, was spent on an aborted casino venture.In Britain, meanwhile, Penthouse provided an entry into the top-shelf business for the aspiring young publisher Richard Desmond, whose company, Northern & Shell, began publishing the British edition in 1982, although the relationship ended in the 1990s.