PRIMARY school pupils in Barnet have fared worse than last year in their SAT exams.

Provisional results for the summer tests slipped in every subject, though the 11-year-olds still performed significantly better than the London and national averages.

In English, 82 per cent of pupils achieved level 4 - the level expected of them - compared to 85 per cent in 2008.

The same percentage attained level 4 in their mathematics exam, down two per cent from last year.

In their science exams they slipped one per cent, from 90 per cent in 2008.

The number of students attaining level 5 decreased in both English and science, but increased by one per cent in mathematics.

But the authority's results still put it among the top ten per cent in the country.

In England as a whole, 80 per cent of pupils who took English, 79 per cent who took mathematics and 88 per cent who took science achieved level 4.

The number of top students achieving level 5 in Barnet was also significantly above the national average in every subject - as much as six per cent in mathematics.

Barnet councillor Fiona Bulmer, cabinet member for education, attributed the fall in grades to a tougher marking policy.

She said: "Our feedback from teachers was that marking was stricter this year, which is perhaps why national results fell too.

"What we will do now is look at all the schools individually and check there are no trends in any particular school that need to be addressed.

"However, we are pleased with the results overall, though we are never complacent."

Average results across the country dropped by one per cent in English and remained the same in science and mathematics.

It is the first year results have fallen since 1995.

Like last year, girls out-performed boys in English and science on both a borough and national level, and boys came top in mathematics.

The results are subject to change if schools choose to appeal.