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| Primary school pupil numbers soaring | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The primary school population in England has continued to rise sharply, with 94,000 extra pupils this year, reaching the highest levels since the 1970s. | |
| The 2.1% increase in primary numbers is equivalent to six more pupils for every school. | |
| "Minority ethnic pupils made up 71% of the increase," says the Department for Education's school census report. | "Minority ethnic pupils made up 71% of the increase," says the Department for Education's school census report. |
| The annual figures show there are now more super-sized primary schools. | |
| It will mean more funding demands to create extra places and pressure on places for families looking for schools. | It will mean more funding demands to create extra places and pressure on places for families looking for schools. |
| There are now 87 primary schools with more than 800 pupils, up from 77 in 2014 and 58 in 2013. | There are now 87 primary schools with more than 800 pupils, up from 77 in 2014 and 58 in 2013. |
| The number of infants in classes above the limit of 30 pupils has increased again - with 108,000 pupils in these over-sized classes, an increase of 8% compared with 2014. | The number of infants in classes above the limit of 30 pupils has increased again - with 108,000 pupils in these over-sized classes, an increase of 8% compared with 2014. |
| The number has more than doubled since 2012, when there were about 47,000 infants in classes of more than 30. In 2008, the figure was fewer than 25,000. | The number has more than doubled since 2012, when there were about 47,000 infants in classes of more than 30. In 2008, the figure was fewer than 25,000. |
| Changing demographics | Changing demographics |
| The figures from the annual school census show numbers rising across the state school system - up by 2.1% in primary and 0.1% in secondary - to a total of 8.4 million pupils. | The figures from the annual school census show numbers rising across the state school system - up by 2.1% in primary and 0.1% in secondary - to a total of 8.4 million pupils. |
| This is an increase of about 200,000 children in two years. | This is an increase of about 200,000 children in two years. |
| The rising population has been a particular challenge for primary schools, which have been having to expand to absorb the increasing numbers. | The rising population has been a particular challenge for primary schools, which have been having to expand to absorb the increasing numbers. |
| But this rising population wave has now reached secondary schools. | But this rising population wave has now reached secondary schools. |
| The analysis says that the rise in primary school numbers is particularly driven by rising number of ethnic minority pupils, accounting for more than two-thirds of the increase. | The analysis says that the rise in primary school numbers is particularly driven by rising number of ethnic minority pupils, accounting for more than two-thirds of the increase. |
| In primary schools, 30.4% of pupils are from an ethnic minority, compared with 29.5% the previous year. | In primary schools, 30.4% of pupils are from an ethnic minority, compared with 29.5% the previous year. |
| But there are wide regional variations. In the inner London boroughs, 81% of pupils are from ethnic minorities; while in north-east England, the figure is below 11%. | But there are wide regional variations. In the inner London boroughs, 81% of pupils are from ethnic minorities; while in north-east England, the figure is below 11%. |
| And at council level, in Newham 94% of pupils are from ethnic minorities, while in Durham the figure is below 5%. | And at council level, in Newham 94% of pupils are from ethnic minorities, while in Durham the figure is below 5%. |
| In inner London, the biggest ethnic group in primary school are black pupils, predominantly from an African background, with Asian pupils the second biggest group. | In inner London, the biggest ethnic group in primary school are black pupils, predominantly from an African background, with Asian pupils the second biggest group. |
| In secondary schools, about 27% of pupils are ethnic minorities, which the report says represents an increase of about 30% in six years. | In secondary schools, about 27% of pupils are ethnic minorities, which the report says represents an increase of about 30% in six years. |
| Despite the rising number of pupils there has not been a growth in the number of primary schools, which have been consistently falling since the 1980s. | Despite the rising number of pupils there has not been a growth in the number of primary schools, which have been consistently falling since the 1980s. |
| Instead, primary schools have been getting bigger, with more pupils in schools with more than 800 pupils. | Instead, primary schools have been getting bigger, with more pupils in schools with more than 800 pupils. |
| Primary pupil numbers had been declining until 2009, but they have been rising sharply since. | Primary pupil numbers had been declining until 2009, but they have been rising sharply since. |
| Funding this demand for extra places - forecast to be another 460,000 during the next five years - has been a continuing pressure on the schools budget. | Funding this demand for extra places - forecast to be another 460,000 during the next five years - has been a continuing pressure on the schools budget. |
| In the general election campaign, the Conservatives committed themselves to protecting per-pupil spending, including for rising numbers. | In the general election campaign, the Conservatives committed themselves to protecting per-pupil spending, including for rising numbers. |