HC Deb 13 February 1989 vol 147 cc48-9W
Mr. McLeish

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the total number of pupils in independent/non-maintained schools in each of the years 1979–80 to 1987–88, identifying separately those granted aid school pupils before 1984–85.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

The numbers of pupils at September each year in independent and in grant aided schools are set out in the table below.

Independent Grant aided
1979 16,364 18,931
1980 16,044 18,652
1981 15,831 18,186
1982 15,160 17,901
1983 14,977 17,850
1984 15,396 17,882
1985 31,899 1,506
1986 32,218 1,484
1987 32,510 1,470

1–2 Highers 3–4 Highers 5+ Highers
Number per cent Number per cent Number per cent
1982–83 600 17 900 24 1,400 38
1983–84 600 18 800 24 1,300 38
1984–85 600 17 800 23 1,400 38
1985–86 600 16 800 22 1,300 37
1986–87 600 16 800 20 1,500 38