Pupil Numbers

Pupils in ISC schools account for around 80% of the total number of pupils in independent schools in the UK. The UK independent sector as a whole educates 671,000 children in around 2,600 independent schools. This represents just under 7% of the total number of schoolchildren in the UK (and just over 8% of the total number of schoolchildren in England). It also represents just under 20% of sixth form pupils.

There are now 511,677 children in ISC schools. Of these:

  • 67,046 are boarders and 444,631 are day pupils
  • 257,506 are boys and 247,734 are girls
  • 45,479 are nursery age (0-4)
  • 160,852 are primary age (5-10)
  • 222,393 are senior age (11-15)
  • 82,467 are sixth form age (16-19)

In schools that were members of ISC in 2008 and 2007 numbers rose from one year to the next. There was a 0.8% rise (around 2500 pupils). Numbers have risen in 18 out of the last 22 years. Total pupil numbers in 2008 reached an all-time record.

20,545 pupils are non-British with parents living overseas. 8,882 new non-British pupils whose parents live overseas joined ISC schools in 2008. Approximately one third of these were from Hong Kong and China and nearly 40% were from Europe. Detailed figures can be found in the ISC Census 2008.