HC Deb 20 March 1995 vol 257 c104W
Mr. Simpson

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children are in(a) primary and (b) secondary education now and how many in 1979. [14678]

Mr. Robin Squire

Information on pupils is maintained primary and secondary schools in England in 1979 and 1994, the latest date for which information is available, is shown in the table.

Full-time equivalent (FTE)1 pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools in England
Position in January each year
1 Primary Secondary
1979 4,444,500 23,820,300
1994 4,093,500 2,933,600
1Each part-time pupil is treated as 0.5 full-time equivalents.
2Excludes sixth form colleges which ceased to be classified as schools from 1 april 1993.