HC Deb 05 February 1982 vol 17 cc223-4W
Mr. Dixon

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the approximate number of children currently being educated privately; and how these figures compare with those for 1977.

Dr. Boyson

This information is not available in quite the form requested. In January 1981 515,742 children were receiving full-time education at independent schools in England. The comparable figure for January 1977 was 518,597.

These figures include some pupils financed by local authorities and exclude children being educated privately outside schools.