UK secondary school students have slipped down an international league table of reading and maths standards.

Based on test results in 2006, the UK has lost the top 10 positions it held for both subjects seven years ago.

The most successful countries in reading are South Korea and Finland and teenagers in Taiwan and Finland are the highest achievers in maths.

The international study is produced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

These Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) performance tables are based on tests taken by 15-year-olds which aim to assess their ability to apply their knowledge in "real world" situations.

They are undertaken every three years - but the UK did not participate in the last round of tests, taken in 2003.

Pupils in the UK have fallen from an international top 10.

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