The UK is among the better performers in an international league table on school science, although there is a wide achievement gap. A study of science ability among 15-year-olds in 57 countries ranked the UK between 12th and 18th place.

Britain has tumbled down another education league table - this time in science. In six years, the UK has slumped from fourth to 14th place in a table of 15-year-olds' performance in science tests. Our schools trail major European countries such as Germany and the Netherlands, as well as smaller nations such as Estonia and Liechtenstein.