Recession? Not in private schools, as pupil numbers in Scotland increase

Published on Friday 2 October 2009 22:05

PUPIL numbers have remained strong at private schools in Scotland despite fears the recession would lead parents to opt for the state sector, a new report has revealed.

Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS) figures show rolls at secondary level are up slightly and at boarding school they have remained roughly the same as last year.

At primary they dropped by 2.5 per cent, from 11,601 to 11,306. This was attributed mainly to a fall in the birth rate, although some experts suggested parents could be holding off enrolling children in the independent sector until they reached secondary school age.

At secondary the number rose by 0.4 per cent from 18,460 to 18,536.

The statistics came a day after a survey of 155 private schools across the UK revealed numbers had risen by 0.5 per cent.

SCIS said the figures exceeded its expectations.

Director Judith Sischy said: "We do not underestimate the pressures on schools or the costs that parents have to meet, but schools are using their resources wisely, maintaining high standards and offering support to parents wherever possible."

It had been feared the recession could cause parents to withdraw their children en masse to save paying fees. Several schools have already increased their bursary schemes to help cash-strapped families cope. Others have delayed building projects and a handful of teachers have been made redundant.

Keith Robson, national official of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers in Scotland, said teachers had feared the worst.

He said: "It's different down south, where there are school closures and mergers. Scotland has managed to keep ahead of that so far. There is certainly relief that the wave of pupil withdrawals that was feared hasn't happened."

Frank Gerstenberg, a former headteacher at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, said: "Looking at the figures, I am amazed that boarding numbers have held up so well, and that nursery numbers have increased. The decline in primary school numbers is probably a reflection, mainly, of the smaller numbers of children in the four to five-year-old cohort, as well as parents perhaps postponing a decision as to whether to opt for an independent education."

SCIS used data from Scotland's 70 independent schools to compile the census.

Average increases this year are 3.8 per cent in day schools and 3.4 per cent in boarding schools. Last year they went up by 5.4 per cent for day and 5 per cent for boarding schools.