§ Mr. HallTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the school population of primary and secondary schools in England and Wales in each academic year since 1978–79. [3170]
§ Mr. Robin SquireThe information for England is shown in the following table. Pupil numbers in Wales are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. 137W
Numbers of pupils (millions) in maintained primary and secondary schools in England Position in January each year Year Primary Secondary1 1979 4.52 3.82 1980 4.36 3.81 1981 4.18 3.78 1982 4.01 3.73 1983 3.84 3.67 1984 3.77 3.58 1985 3.75 3.46 1986 3.76 3.32 1987 3.79 3.18 1988 3.84 3.01 1989 3.91 2.87 1990 3.98 2.79 1991 4.05 2.77 1992 4.09 2.82 1993 4.17 2.87 1994 4.24 2.93 1995 4.31 2.99 1996 4.39 3.01 1Excludes pupils in sixth form colleges which ceased to be classified as schools in April 1993.