In 2025, the average fee for one year at a private school in the UK was 18,456 British pounds, compared with 18,063 in the previous year.

United Kingdom UK: School Enrollment: Secondary: Private: % of Total Secondary data was reported at 70.828 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 69.494 % for 2014. United Kingdom UK: School Enrollment: Secondary: Private: % of Total Secondary data is updated yearly, averaging 27.445 % from Dec 1999 (Median) to 2015, with 17 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 70.828 % in 2015 and a record low of 24.869 % in 2007. United Kingdom UK: School Enrollment: Secondary: Private: % of Total Secondary data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Private enrollment refers to pupils or students enrolled in institutions that are not operated by a public authority but controlled and managed, whether for profit or not, by a private body such as a nongovernmental organization, religious body, special interest group, foundation or business enterprise.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

In 2025, there were approximately 1,423 private or independent schools in the United Kingdom, compared with 1.411 in 2020.

As of 2025, there were approximately 545,640 pupils attending private or independent schools in the United Kingdom, compared with 565,550 in the previous year.

Schools are heavily reliant on funding, so government spending decisions shape the performance of primary schools. Tuition fees and donations that turn the lights on in independent schools are key to primary education revenue. The necessity of primary education protects it from large funding cuts since the UK economy relies on an educated and skilled population. Performance is sensitive to the number of children of primary school age, so a decade of slumping birth rates is catching up to the industry. In 2020-21, forced closures of primary schools owing to the COVID-19 outbreak hit revenue. Government support has propped up primary schools, providing funding of £5 billion between June 2020 and February 2022, according to the DfE. Although government funding has risen, revenue has inched downwards at a compound annual rate of 1.9% to £38 billion, largely because of the revenue fall during COVID-19 thanks to tuition fee repayments and freezes and school closures. Government assistance is set to support revenue growth of 0.7% in 2024-25. The minimum funding per pupil levels in 2024-25 is set at £4,610 per pupil for primary schools in 2024-25. The government has committed funding in support of primary education, making £2 billion more available for schools over 2023-24 and 2024-25. Its success will be determined by how higher costs are contained. Primary school children numbers will continue to decrease, reducing demand, encouraging consolidation of smaller schools and the closure of schools. The issue of falling pupil numbers is particularly prevalent in London. Issues with teacher numbers will put pressure on wage costs and constrain profit growth. Government funding assistance for teacher pay is helping schools cover the 5.5% pay rise in 2024-25. The introduction of VAT in January 2025 to private school fees may contribute to a dip in attendance at indepenent primary schools. Revenue is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 1.3% over the five years through 2029-30 to reach £40.5 billion.

In 2019, the Conservative party had the highest share of MPs who attended fee-paying schools in the United Kingdom, at 44 percent, followed by the Liberal Democrats with 38 percent. Scottish National Party MPs were the least likely to have attended fee-paying schools, at 8 percent.

The Private Schools in the UK report contains historic and forward looking analysis written by our in-house team of industry analysts. This includes industry revenue and profit figures, available in table and chart format, with accompanying insights explaining the underlying industry trends.

A list of all independent schools and special post-16 institutions for children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) approved under section 41 of the Children and Families Act 2014 in England and Wales.

You can filter the list by local authority or by type of setting.

Our guide for independent special schools and special post-16 institutions explains how to apply for approval under section 41.

Voluntary removal

Contact hns.sos@education.gov.uk to request removal from the approved list, stating your reason. We will remove your institution in the next update and notify local authorities. The published list includes all removed institutions.

Once removed, you cannot re-apply for one full academic year.

Other special schools

Details of all special schools in England are available on the https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Search" class="govuk-link">Department for Education’s Get Information about Schools system. This includes:

• maintained schools
• academies
• independent schools
• non-maintained schools

The SEND guide for parents and carers explains how parents can ask for one of these schools or special post-16 institutions to be named in their child’s education, health and care plan.

Following significant government support, 81.9% of secondary schools are now academies according to the government, with maintained schools increasingly converting. Both types remain under strict government guidelines, but academies can decide term dates, curriculums, subject choices and budget decisions. Despite several years of economic turmoil, government funding has remained strong because of the importance of maintaining and improving UK education standards. Secondary education revenue is expected to have grown at a compound annual rate of 1.4% to £66.1 billion over the five years through 2024-25, growing by 2.1% in 2024-25. The COVID-19 outbreak severely disrupted the day-to-day running of schools throughout 2020-21, with temporary closures forcing pupils to stay at home and learn online. The Educational Recovery Fund has supported educational catch-up, totalling around £5 billion in February 2022, preventing a significant drop in revenue during the COVID-19 outbreak. In cash terms, total funding for all state-funded schools totalled £60.7 billion in 2024-25 due to a £3.9 billion funding increase in 2024-25. Private school pupil numbers have marginally dipped, with the ISC recording a 0.1% decline in independent secondary school pupil numbers over the year through January 2024, with the cost-of-living crisis having squeezed some parents' purse strings. For the start of the 2024-25 academic year, private school enrolments were down, especially for new starters in their first year of secondary school, with the potenital for fee hikes if VAT is added in January 2025 looming. This could pose a threat to profit and place more pressure on state schools to open up available places. Secondary education revenue is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 2% to £72.9 billion over the five years through 2029-30. The number of international students attending independent schools has not fallen with immigration policies, as many independent schools hold Student Visa Sponsors. With school costs still continuing to grow by 4% in 2024-25, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, school funding per pupil will remain stretched.

The data contain information on 837 low-cost for-profit private schools (LCPS) from three districts in Punjab, Pakistan: Faisalabad, Gujranwala, and Sialkot. The past few decades have seen an exponential increase in the growth of these LCPS globally, and in countries like Pakistan and India, the private sector now commands a large and quickly increasing share of the market. Over forty percent of primary school enrolment in Pakistan is now in LCPS, and students in private schools in Pakistan far out-perform those in public schools. Yet, firm innovation and expansion is constrained for private schools, likely due to a range of supply-side and market level failures. The main research questions this study and the uploaded dataset seek to answer are: (1) To what extent are schools constrained by finance, and does the type of financing vehicle (loan vs equity) matter? (2) Is LCPS quality improvement constrained by a lack of access to appropriate quality-enhancing products and services, i.e. educational support services (ESS)? (3) Is there a positive interaction between access to finance and the provision of appropriate innovative investment opportunities? The dataset includes topics such as school administration, facilities, fees, enrolment, student population, finances, and financial expectations and literacy. Schools are uniquely identified using the variables mauza (administrative district) code and school code. While most of the variables are school-level, there are a few individual-level data pieces that were collected from the school owner. For each school we interviewed only one owner, therefore both schools and school owners are identified using the same mauza code and school code ID.

Table shows numbers of all Schools and Pupils by Type of School.

School types included in this publication are State-Funded Primary, Secondary and Special schools, Independent schools, Pupil Referral Units, and Alternative Provision.

See DfE website

Full daily dataset of all schools and pupil numbers are available from the DFE EduBase site

Cartogram created from this data:

Information on all schools in England including local authority maintained schools, academies, free schools, studio schools, university technical colleges and independent schools. The information includes address, school type and phone number. This information comes from EduBase, DfE’s register of schools, and will be updated every month. http://www.education.gov.uk/edubase/home.xhtml

The UK student loan market, a significant segment of the global student loan landscape, is experiencing robust growth fueled by increasing higher education enrollment and evolving government policies. While precise market figures for the UK specifically are unavailable from the provided data, we can infer substantial size based on the global CAGR of 7% and the presence of major UK lenders like HSBC and others listed. The market is segmented by loan type (federal/government, private), repayment plan (standard, graduated, income-based, etc.), age group (under 24, 25-34, over 35), and end-user (graduate, high school, other). Government loan programs, due to their accessibility and affordability, likely dominate the market share. However, the private student loan segment is also witnessing growth, driven by demand for specialized financing and potentially higher borrowing limits than government schemes. Trends like rising tuition fees and the increasing awareness of income-driven repayment plans contribute to market expansion. Conversely, constraints include potential economic downturns that could impact borrower repayment ability and government policy shifts affecting loan availability or terms. The market's future growth will depend on factors such as government funding levels for higher education, economic conditions, and the continued popularity of higher education among young people. Further analysis suggests that the market's regional concentration is largely within the UK, though international students studying in the UK contribute to the overall value. Competition among lenders is intense, encompassing both large established banks and specialized student loan providers. The competitive landscape necessitates innovative product offerings, competitive interest rates, and flexible repayment options to attract and retain borrowers. The sustained growth trajectory indicates a promising outlook for the UK student loan market, with opportunities for further expansion driven by ongoing trends in education and economic factors. Data points to considerable growth potential across all segments. However, careful monitoring of economic indicators and regulatory changes will be crucial for stakeholders to effectively navigate the market's future landscape. Recent developments include: July 2023: Prodigy Finance, a socially responsible FinTech leader in international student loan lending, announced a groundbreaking USD 350 million facility in partnership with Citi, Schroders Capital, and SCIO Capital. This marks the inaugural transaction under Prodigy's innovative multi-issuance special-purpose vehicle structure. The collaborative effort between Prodigy Finance and its funding partners reflects a substantial commitment to providing accessible financial support to ambitious master's students worldwide. To date, Prodigy has disbursed over USD 1.8 billion in postgraduate education loans, supporting more than 35,000 high-potential students from across 100 different countries., March 2023: Following extensive overnight negotiations, HSBC came to the rescue of Silicon Valley Bank's UK branch. HSBC UK has acquired SVB UK for a nominal sum of GBP 1 (USD 1.21) in a transaction that excludes the assets and liabilities of SVB UK's parent company.. Key drivers for this market are: Increasing Demand for Higher Education is Driving the Market, Government Support is Driving the Market. Potential restraints include: Increasing Demand for Higher Education is Driving the Market, Government Support is Driving the Market. Notable trends are: High Tuition Fees is Driving the Market.

United Kingdom UK: School Enrollment: Primary: Private: % of Total Primary data was reported at 17.817 % in 2015. This records an increase from the previous number of 13.990 % for 2014. United Kingdom UK: School Enrollment: Primary: Private: % of Total Primary data is updated yearly, averaging 4.842 % from Dec 1981 (Median) to 2015, with 30 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.817 % in 2015 and a record low of 3.968 % in 1981. United Kingdom UK: School Enrollment: Primary: Private: % of Total Primary data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Education Statistics. Private enrollment refers to pupils or students enrolled in institutions that are not operated by a public authority but controlled and managed, whether for profit or not, by a private body such as a nongovernmental organization, religious body, special interest group, foundation or business enterprise.; ; UNESCO Institute for Statistics; Weighted average; Each economy is classified based on the classification of World Bank Group's fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017-June 30, 2018).

This dataset tracks annual white student percentage from 2013 to 2023 for Elsa England Elementary School vs. Texas and Round Rock Independent School District

UK Student Loan Market size was valued at USD 3009.63 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 5394.76 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 7.56% from 2026 to 2032.Key Market DriversRising Higher Education Enrollment and Tuition Costs: The consistent growth in UK higher education participation rates combined with increasing tuition fees has significantly expanded the demand for student loans. This fundamental driver reflects both demographic trends and the continued perceived value of university education despite rising costs. UCAS data showed that 560,030 students were accepted into UK universities for the 2022/23 academic year, representing a 3.8% increase since 2019/20. The Student Loans Company reported that the average loan balance for borrowers who began repayment in 2022 was 45,060, a 17% increase from 2019 levels.International Student Growth and Specialized Financing: The UK has experienced substantial growth in international student numbers, creating expanded opportunities for private student lending as these students typically cannot access the same government-backed loans as domestic students. UCAS data showed international student acceptances increased by 12.3% between 2020 and 2023, with 70,055 non-UK students accepted in the 2022/23 academic year. Private student loan providers reported a 37% increase in lending to international students between 2020 and 2022, according to a Financial Conduct Authority market review.

Data are collected annually through the School census exercise. This takes place in early October when each school is required to submit a return detailing information about the numbers of pupils on their register. Among the information collected are details on: year group, gender, age, religion, ethnicity, Special Educational Needs and on newcomer pupils. Statistics produced from the school census exercise qualify as National Statistics. Schools fall under various management types: Controlled schools are managed by the Education Authority through Boards of Governors. Primary and secondary school Boards of Governors consist of representatives of transferors (mainly the Protestant Churches) along with representatives of parents, teachers and the Education Authority. Nursery, grammar and special school Boards of Governors consist of representatives of the latter 3 categories. Within the controlled sector there is a small but growing number of controlled integrated schools. Voluntary (maintained) schools are managed by Boards of Governors which consist of members nominated by trustees (mainly Roman Catholic), along with representatives of parents, teachers and the Education Authority. Voluntary schools vary in the rates of capital grant to which they are entitled, depending on the management structures they have adopted. A majority are entitled to capital grants at 100%. Voluntary: (Non-Maintained) schools are mainly voluntary grammar schools, managed by Boards of Governors which consist of persons appointed as provided in each school's scheme of management along with representatives of parents and teachers and, in most cases, members appointed by the Department or the Education Authority. Voluntary Grammar Schools are funded directly by the Department. In recent years a number of grant-maintained integrated schools have been established at primary level and post-primary levels. Such schools are funded directly by the Department. The practical operation of all schools has increasingly become a matter for Boards of Governors. They are responsible for the delivery of the curriculum, admission of pupils, and in the case of schools with delegated budgets, for the management of their own financial affairs, including staffing matters. Independent schools do not receive recurrent funding from the Dept Education.

Interested parties can now request extracts of data from the NPD using an improved application process accessed through the following website; GOV.UK The first version of the NPD, including information from the first pupil level School Census matched to attainment information, was produced in 2002. The NPD is one of the richest education datasets in the world holding a wide range of information about pupils and students and has provided invaluable evidence on educational performance to inform independent research, as well as analysis carried out or commissioned by the department. There are a range of data sources in the NPD providing information about children’s education at different phases. The data includes detailed information about pupils’ test and exam results, prior attainment and progression at each key stage for all state schools in England. The department also holds attainment data for pupils and students in non-maintained special schools, sixth form and further education colleges and (where available) independent schools. The NPD also includes information about the characteristics of pupils in the state sector and non-maintained special schools such as their gender, ethnicity, first language, eligibility for free school meals, awarding of bursary funding for 16-19 year olds, information about special educational needs and detailed information about any absences and exclusions. Extracts of the data from NPD can be shared (under strict terms and conditions) with named bodies and third parties who, for the purpose of promoting the education or well-being of children in England, are:- • Conducting research or analysis • Producing statistics; or • Providing information, advice or guidance. The department wants to encourage more third parties to use the data for these purposes and produce secondary analysis of the data. All applications go through a robust approval process and those granted access are subject to strict terms and conditions on the security, handling and use of the data, including compliance with the Data Protection Act. Anyone requesting access to the most sensitive data will also be required to submit a business case. More information on the application process including the User Guide, Application Form, Security Questionnaire and a full list of data items available can be found from the NPD web page at:- https://www.gov.uk/national-pupil-database-apply-for-a-data-extract