Fall in independent school pupils, census shows

The number of children being taught in independent schools in the UK has fallen, annual figures show.


The Independent Schools Council (ISC) census showed 511,886 pupils were being privately educated, compared with 514,531 last year - a fall of 0.6%.

Considering the economic downturn, the figures were described by the private schools body as a "positive message".
The average private school fee per term was £4,186, excluding nursery fees. The census was completed by 1,260 schools.

The average boarding school fee per term was £8,003 and the average day fee was £3,571 per term.

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Recession-hit private schools rescued by overseas pupils

One in three boarders is now from abroad, figures show
By Richard Garner, Education Editor

A record influx of overseas pupils has cushioned the effects of the recession for Britain's independent schools.



Figures out today show a 7.4 per cent rise in the number of overseas pupils – bringing the total to an all-time high of 23,307. However, the overall number of independent school pupils has fallen by nearly 3,000 as a result of the recession.

There are two reasons for the rise in overseas pupils:
some schools have devoted more energy to recruiting overseas, fearing difficulties in the home market, and European families have been attracted by private schools offering the International Baccalaureate alongside A-levels. Wellington College, for instance, has seen a 20 per cent increase in overseas applications – most notably from Germany – since it began offering the IB, which gives pupils a broader range of sixth-form studies than A-levels.
The largest international group within private schools are Chinese and Hong Kong students.

The rise means that one in three boarding pupils in the UK is now from an overseas background.
Case Study: ‘Our students have a global outlook’ (by Rossall School, Fleetwood, Lancashire)

Further Reference: Independent Schools Council



Todays ISC Census Analysis by Telegraph is Politically Pitched/may be biased hence I am not posting it here -Analyzer