London schools have been seen as the indicator of improving levels of performance in the UK in recent times, but new analysis of tests from across the world suggests that the capital's schools are falling behind the standards set by competitors on an international stage. 

University College London (UCL) Institute of Education study, using OECD Pisa test results, show that many of the major cities in major nations, and even some UK cities, are performing better than schools across London when it comes to testing. 

Researchers at UCL took a sample of 42 schools from pupils taking tests in 2009 and 2012, comparing the results of 15-year olds in London and comparing them to other pupils for reading, maths and science. 

It was discovered that at the age of 15, the best performers in the world are in Shanghai when it comes to Pisa testing. UCL academics suggest that if these results are an indicator of the city, then London pupils are around three years behind their counterparts in Shanghai in these areas.

Singapore, Hong Kong, Finland and Poland also scored highly, particularly in maths, while Londoners came in behind those from Spain, Italy, France, Slovenia and Latvia as well. 

Report author John Jerrim, however, cautioned that the results it shows are just one piece of a larger puzzle. And the improvement in London schools in terms of GCSE results in the last few years, he said, should also be a cause for celebration. 

"The global perspective is what we should focus on. We shouldn't just look to London as a benchmark, we should look at the wider world," he added. 

Munira Mirza, London's deputy mayor for education and culture, said the study shows there is no room for being complacent when it comes to offering London schools the support they require to improve and take their place among the very best in the world.