Private pupil numbers soar

Published on Tuesday 29 April 2008 22:52

RECORD numbers of children in Scotland are attending private schools, according to latest statistics.

The number of pupils in independent schools increased last year by 462 to 30,981.

Government statisticians described the increase as relatively large compared with fairly stable numbers over the past decade.

The rise goes against the falling number of school-age children in Scotland.

There were 3,396 teachers working in the sector, an increase of 62 over the 2006 figure, which equates to 9.1 pupils per teacher last year.

The Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS) said the figures showed 4.5 per cent of all pupils in Scotland attended independent schools.

Judith Sischy, director of SCIS, described it as a record statistic which reflected confidence in the independent sector.

She said: "Parents make an important commitment when choosing an independent school, despite the significant financial output in fees, and truly value the education their children receive."