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 ...