The number of school pupils has risen
By 71,100 to 8.89 million in 2020. This continues a trend of year on year increases going back to 2009.
By school type,
- The number of pupils in state-funded primary schools has decreased by 12,300 (0.3%) to 4.71 million. This is the first decrease since 2010.
- The number of pupils in state-funded secondary schools has risen by 81,300 to 3.41 million, continuing a trend of year on year increases since 2016.
- The number of pupils in state-funded special schools has increased by 6,400 (5.3%) to 128,100, continuing a trend seen since 2006. The number of pupils in non-maintained special schools has also increased, by 100 (3.2%) to just under 3,800.
- The number of pupils attending independent schools has decreased by 3,600 (0.6%) to 576,900. This figure includes independent special schools and continues a trend seen since 2017.
The figures exclude dual subsidiary registered pupils. In 2020, there were 10,800 dual subsidiary pupils recorded in pupil referral units (including academy and free school alternative provision).
There were 633,500 pupils in reception year in 2020. The number of pupils in each year group increases to year 3, before the trend reverses and lower numbers are seen in each higher year group. This is in line with national pupil projections, and further increases in pupil numbers in secondary schools are expected to occur as the higher number of primary school pupils progress to secondary school.
There are more boys than girls
As in previous years, there are more boys in school than girls, in line with ONS population estimates, and the numbers of both boys and girls have increased since 2019. The ratio in 2020 is approximately 51:49 and shows no noticeable change over the past 5 years.