The tables below show the approximate number of maintained and independent schools in the UK and the number of pupils that attend those schools. The total number of schools includes nurseries, city technology colleges, pupil referral units etc.
Country
Number of schools
Primary
Secondary
Special
Total
England [1]
17,600
3,400
1,000
25,300
Scotland [2]
2,200
380
190
2,800
Wales [3]
1,600
225
43
2,000
Northern Ireland [4]
900
230
45
1,300
Country
Number of pupils
Primary
Secondary
Special
Total
England [1]
4,200,000
3,300,000
90,000
8,300,000
Scotland [2]
400,000
320,000
8,000
725,000
Wales [3]
250,000
215,000
4,000
480,000
Northern Ireland [4]
170,000
150,000
5,000
340,000
[1] Schools and Pupils in England (2005) – DfES/National Statistics
[2] Teacher Census Results 2004 (2005) – Scott ish Executive
[3] Schools in Wales : General Statistics 2004 (2005) – National Assembly for Wales
[4] Number s of Schools and Pupils 1990/91 to 2004/05 (2005) – DENI
These figures do not reveal the trend in demographics but the figures in the annual school census show that there is a decline since 2003 in the total numbers of children entering education and this is predicted to continue as birth rates have dipped. While it is unclear how this will impact nationally, it is already beginning to affect some schools, with closures being expected in some counties over the next three years.
In Scotland, for example, t he total number of pupils receiving publicly funded school education is projected to decrease steadily from 724 thousand in 2004, to 631 thousand in 2016, a decrease of 13 per cent. The number of pupils in publicly funded primary schools is projected to continue to fall steadily from 398 thousand in 2004, to 367 thousand in 2010, and then more slowly to 359 thousand in 2016, a decrease of ten per cent. [source: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications]
