§ 46. Mr. James Lamondasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was, for pupils of comparable age, the level of unit costs per pupil for local authority maintained education compared with fees charged per pupil for private sector non-boarding education in the financial year 1982–83.
§ Mr. DunnDirect comparisons cannot be made between costs per pupil in maintained education and fees charged in the independent sector because data are not collected on a consistent basis. The average net institutional cost per pupil of education in maintained secondary schools in 1982–83 was £945. This figure excludes various items of expenditure; for example, the financing costs of capital expenditure, pupil support and meals and milk. If these items were included, the cost per pupil in maintained secondary schools in 1982–83 was of the order of £1,160. The average tuition fee charged in September 1982 by the 223 independent schools participating in the assisted places scheme was £1,470 per annum. However, the precise range of services covered by this fee is likely to differ between schools.