HC Deb 18 November 1982 vol 32 c258W
Mr. McNally

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated number of (a) primary school pupils and (b) secondary school pupils attending schools in England in (i) 1981–82, (ii) 1982–83 and (iii) his best estimate of the numbers in each category in each year from 1983–84 to 1988–89.

Dr. Boyson

The provisional count of pupils in maintained schools in England in January 1982 and projections for each of the following seven years are as follows:

Pupils* (thousands)
January Primary (5+) Secondary
1982 3,619 3,798
1983 3,432 3,748
1984 3,317 3,659
1985 3,275 3,544
1986 3,289 3,407
1987 3,303 3,267
1988 3,328 3,099
1989 3,375 2,954
* Aged 5 years or over at the previous 31 December.

Note: Middle schools are included according to whether deemed primary or secondary.