do independent school applications mirror house price trends?

[MrsGuyOfGisbourne]

the reason I ask is that our local primary school recently released a list of secondary schools that the year 6 leavers went on to ( helpfully also showing whether in the independendent or maintained sector ).
Since 2003, the proportion moving on to independent has moved from 34% to 73% in 2008, and the annual progression has been: 34%, 39%,41%, 58%, 75%,73%.
I am not an expert on house price trends but it mirrors my general perception of house price trends, even to the peak in 2007 and slight dip in 2008.
So I am wondering if parents' (and grandparents' perception of increased prosperity by greater equity in their house (and ability to rasie a mortgage thereon to fund fees) has been a significant factor.Unfortunaltey the school was not kind enoigh to include a breakdown of how people fund the fees ...

[fridayschild]

Nice spot MrsG! I bet you're right, and it is the "feeling" of wealth which triggers the move.

The alternative might be that parents cannot afford to move to the catchment area of a decent state secondary, but can stump up the school fees instead.

[myredcardigan]

It may well be but it could also just be that the state secondary has become progressively worse throughout those years prompting more parents to go private.

[cornsilk]

It could also be due to greater awareness of special needs amongst parents, so they are choosing to send their children to a small private school with SN provision.

[sophy]

www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/may/04/schools.publicschools

[sophy]

Another view:

www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/record-numbers-sent-to-private-schools-447380.ht ml