Pupils in Haringey are performing very well at primary school – but more work needs to be done to tackle attainment gaps that appear as they get older.

An analysis of exam results from the borough’s schools shows many pupils are performing better than their peers in the rest of London and the UK.

Progress is particularly strong at reception and primary level after the borough’s schools made big strides forward over the past few years.

But councillors at the children and young people’s scrutiny panel on Monday raised fears that some ethnic groups were falling behind – particularly at secondary level.

An attainment report presented to the meeting shows three quarters of Haringey pupils reach a good level of development up to the age of five – above the London average for the third year in a row.

The proportion of youngsters achieving their early learning goals in this group is two to four per cent higher than national averages and one to two per cent above the London average.

At key stages one and two – up to the end of primary school – the good progress continues, with most outcomes higher than national and London averages.

James Page, chief executive of Haringey Education Partnership, said: “At early years, it is a really positive picture across the board.

“Haringey has gone on a huge journey since 2012 and we are now in the London top quartile, which is as good as it gets.”

But the figures show gaps in attainment begin to open up as pupils get older, with some ethnic groups falling further behind.

At GCSE level, white British pupils and those who performed well at primary school continue to outperform their peers in London.

But other groups, such as pupils from Turkish and black Caribbean backgrounds, start to fall behind their classmates.

Cllr Tammy Palmer, Liberal Democrat member for Crouch End, asked what was being done to help pupils from these backgrounds.

Mr Page told the panel there was a group working with schools to help them provide support to Turkish and Black Caribbean pupils.

He added that the council was also looking at how other London boroughs improve attainment for these groups.

Mr Page said the lower attainment of black Caribbean pupils was not unique to Haringey and formed part of a broader, national picture.

Cllr Elin Weston, cabinet member for children, education and families, said pressures on school budgets meant it was becoming harder for them to offer classes for those in need of extra tuition.

She said: “It would be brilliant to think we could go back to the days when resources were available, but unfortunately we can’t.”

Cllr Weston pointed out that some schools offer free classes at weekends, where staff volunteer to support children requiring extra tuition.

Parts of Haringey are among the most deprived in England, and the borough’s schools teach significantly higher proportions of disadvantaged pupils than the rest of the country.

The borough’s schools also have a higher proportion of pupils with special educational needs.

Haringey Education Partnership is aiming to increase the percentage of schools rated outstanding beyond the current level of 20 per cent.

It will also continue to work to narrow the attainment gaps for disadvantaged youngsters; Turkish pupils; black, Asian and minority ethnic pupils; and those speaking English as a second language.