The numbers of children in private education

[EdithWeston]

Does anyone know what they are?

I don't just mean the oft quoted headline figure of all children of 7%.

I was wondering how this broke down in terms of %age of prep school children to primary, and the two sectors in secondary (when more places become available in the private sector). And in particular, for 6th form when schooling is no longer compulsory and the overall number decreases, but the private sector again takes more in.

I read a link somewhere - I think it was a response to a newspaper article -that it was nearer to 20% at sixth form level.

Depends where you are. In my nexk of the woods it's more like 20%+

Anyone have any ideas who (if anyone) might collect the data?

guidetoindependentschools.com
Think they are still at 7% though!!

I tried googling, and can only find the headline figure. The link to the Independent Schools Council Census isn't working. I can't think of anyone else.

If you can be bothered to play with the data, then this may help you. Lots of "raw" data.

Thanks Ladymuck!

I'll do some more number crunching for a fuller picture, but a quick look at the figures that most closely apply to 6th form (the 16-19+ category) shows 21% in private schools.

If 21% are private for 6th form, and the average is 7% for 4-18yo, then the primary % must be around 2-4%, no? I will see if I can make sense of the numbers, too.

6th form is obviously currently "voluntary" so the stats will change once it is mandatory. When I've looked at the stats, of far more interest than the national stats, were the regional stats. In many areas of the country the stats fall to 3% or less, whereas in London and South East they are far higher.

The stats also provide a snapshot. The stat that I would be curious to see is the percentage of children leaving secondary education who had been privately educated at some point.

Okay this figure is wrong, because from my calculations of the data here, it is 20+ % if you just compare those in state school with those in private schools, however if you add in those in sixth form and FE colleges, then the percentage in private schools is more like 11%. Which seems far more reasonable given in some areas schools do not have sixth forms (eg. Hampshire), also given a number of students come from overseas to study in Engliish sixth forms.

www.isc.co.uk/Resources/Independent%20Schools%20Council/Research%20Archive/Annual%20Census/2011/2011_AnnualCensus_ISC.pdf

ISC download seems to be working now. Although it shows you the numbers of children at varying stages it doesn't seem to show it as a percentage of the total number of DCs at private and state schools.

It does though show the number of new sixth form students entering a private sixth form which is interesting.

If you look on the Independent education:arguements in favour thread, I linked to data listing all pupil numbers by Local authority including numbers in independent sector. The data is for 2006/7, but seems the most recent I can find.
Sorry can't link, on phone.