A 16-year-old Cricklewood schoolgirl was stabbed in the hand on Monday, apparently after an argument with another pupil.

Police and ambulance services were called to Whitefield School, in Claremont Road, shortly after 10am. The victim, a sixth form student, is believed to have had an argument with a boy, also 16, in a corridor, before being cut with a knife.

A Barnet police spokeswoman said a boy had been arrested and charged with grievous bodily harm on the same day as the attack. He appeared at Brent Magistrates' Court on Tuesday and has been remanded in custody. He is due to appear before Barnet Youth Court tomorrow.

The girl was taken to hospital, but police said her injuries were not considered critical or life-changing'.

Peter Blenkinsop, the school's head teacher, said: "Our medical staff dealt with the student and the police and ambulance arrived very quickly. We don't believe the injury was serious but it was a massive shock. We have got a letter going out to all students today, and we have been reassuring them they are not in any danger."

Barnet Council moved to reassure parents that children are safe at schools in the borough.

A spokeswoman said: "The statistics show that Barnet's schools are safe schools. Knife crime accounts for less than one per cent of total crime in Barnet - and the majority of those crimes are burglary or robbery. However, the council takes incidents like this very seriously.

We have a good relationship with the police and make regular visits to schools to reinforce the message about the dangers of knives and other weapons."

u The trial of a teenager accused of murdering Edgware schoolboy Kiyan Prince is due to begin at the Old Bailey on Monday.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been held in custody since May 22.

Kiyan, who was 15, died after being stabbed in the chest and arm on May 18 outside the London Academy school in Green Lane.