HC Deb 03 December 1990 vol 182 cc15-6W
Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what number and percentage of the total of students in higher education attended private schools.

Mr. Alan Howarth

The Department's survey of leavers from English schools in academic year 1988–89 indicates that approximately one quarter of pupils whose intended destination on leaving school was full-time higher education were attending independent schools.

Evidence from the youth cohort study also indicated that some 25 per cent. of 18-year-olds in higher education had attended independent schools.

Information published by UCCA shows that there were nearly 16 thousand students accepted for entry at United Kingdom universities in autumn 1989 from independent schools in England and Wales.

Mr. Tony Lloyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average cost of a place in higher education.

Mr. Alan Howarth

Available recurrent public funding per full-time equivalent home student in the Universities Funding Council and Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council sectors is planned at £5,320 for the 1991–92 financial year.