§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the approximate cost of providing education for a child (a) from the primary stage to age 16 years and (b) during the secondary education stage only.
§ Mr. DunnIn 1981–82 in the maintained sector the net institutional cost per pupil of primary education, other than in nursery classes, was £612 and the net institutional cost per pupil of secondary education from the age of 11 to 16 was £824. Assuming that a child spent six years in primary school and five years in secondary school, the cost of providing education for a child from the primary stage to 16 years was approximately £7,792 and the cost during the secondary education stage only was £4,120. The figures of £612 and £824 exclude various items of expenditure, including the financing costs of capital expenditure, pupil support, and meals and milk. If these items were included, the figures would be of the order of £750 and £1,070 for pupils in primary and secondary schools respectively. Figures for 1982–83 are not yet available.