§ Mr. Campbell-Savoursasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what evidence is available to his Department on the relative costs per pupil in the independent and maintained sectors of secondary education.
§ Dr. BoysonThe average net cost per pupil of education in maintained secondary schools in the academic year 1980–81 was approximately £950. The382W Department does not collect information about comparative costs in independent schools but an indication of costs is given by fee levels. A survey of 1,278 independent secondary schools by the Independent Schools Information Service in January 1981 reported average day tuition fees of £1,423 per year for schools in membership of the Headmasters Conference and £1,220 for schools in membership of the Girls Schools Association. The average tuition fee charged in September 1980 by the 220 independent schools participating in the assisted places scheme was £1,148 per year.