subject: Public or private Schools: Tight household budgets may slow enrolments at independent schools [print this page] Public or private Schools: Tight household budgets may slow enrolments at independent schools
Public or private Schools: Tight household budgets may slow enrolments at independent schools.The Primary Education industry provides education to about five million children at over 23,000 primary schools across the UK. Most primary schools are publicly funded and do not charge tuition, but the industry also includes privately funded independent schools, referred to as preparatory schools. Primary school services are largely state provided; indeed, over 96% of primary school pupils attend maintained schools. Preparatory schools enrol the remaining pupils, believed to be approximately 198,300 children. Around 721,500 people are employed in primary education, at a cost of 15.1 billion in wages. Revenue for primary schools is expected to grow by 1.1% in 2010-11 to total 26.03 billion.
Primary schools have been largely spared from the spending cuts announced by the coalition government in late 2010, but there are changes ahead for the industry with government plans to convert publicly funded schools (both primary and secondary) into academies. The government hopes to raise education standards by granting schools increased autonomy to set their own curriculum and manage their affairs independently of local authorities. The government is working to establish up to 16 free schools by September 2011, several of which are primary schools.
There are over 23,000 primary schools within the UK, which enrol around five million children. The Primary Education industry has experienced slow to moderate growth in revenue over the past five years - largely the result of unfavourable demographic trends and a moderate rise in public sector funding for primary education. Primary schools enrol children aged four to 11 (and sometimes 12); however, this population group has contracted over the past 10 years. Industry revenue is projected to increase at an average 2.1% per annum to total 26.03 billion in 2010-11.
Primary schools can be broadly divided into state-funded (maintained) and privately funded (independent) schools. There are further divisions based on funding and the school governing body. In terms of enrolment, publicly funded schools or maintained schools enrol over 95% of British primary school children; privately funded schools enrol the remainder. Most primary schools are state funded and administered by a local authority and offer a mainstream education curriculum. This group includes community schools, voluntary schools and foundation schools. Voluntary schools are run in association with a charity, such as a church, and are therefore also known as religious schools. They may be either voluntary-aided or voluntary-controlled schools this is determined by the governance arrangements between the local authority and the charity organisation.
Over the coming five years, a projected rise in children of primary school age will increase demand for primary schools, which will encourage either the expansion of existing school capacity or the establishment of new schools. Government funding for primary education is forecast to remain low over 2011-12, and revenue is projected to rise by 1.3% to total 26.36 billion.
