The number of pupils attending independent schools in England in each year since 2010 is published in table 1a of the ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistical release. This can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2019.

Information on the nationality of pupils is not collected and information on children attending schools in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the devolved administrations.

Alternative provision (AP) providers which are full-time and meet the criteria for registration as an independent school are already regulated under the 2008 act. The parallel provisions which would enable regulation of part-time alternative provision have not been commenced.

While Ofsted does not directly inspect unregistered settings, inspectors are expected to consider the progress of pupils who attend off-site provision, when conducting school and college inspections. In all cases, the local authority or school acting as the AP commissioner, should assure itself that the provision is delivered by high quality staff with suitable training, experience and safeguarding checks.

It is not possible to say how many independent schools are not meeting the standards at any one time. Meeting the standards is a condition of continued registration as an independent school, but the principal means of ascertaining compliance is through the inspection system.

Independent schools are normally inspected every 3 years and more often if they have been found not to be meeting the standards, until they improve. Therefore, at any one time, a particular school may be awaiting inspection and may or may not be meeting the standards or be under regulatory action and in the process of achieving compliance once again.

A statement on the regulation of independent schools is published at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulating-independent-schools.

The department has consulted on the relationships between independent and state funded schools, and will be responding in due course.

The Independent Schools Councils runs an annual census of its member schools which can be found at: https://www.isc.co.uk/research/annual-census/. The Census and Annual Report Snapshot for 2017 is attached.

The department have consulted on the relationships between independent and state funded schools, and will be responding in due course.

The only basis for the registration of a new independent school is whether, upon registration, it is likely to meet the independent school standards. If the Secretary of State is satisfied that it will do so, then the school must be registered. However, the standards do include a requirement that the school ensures that pupils understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality in which the school is situated, and to society more widely. There are also other relevant standards such as those relevant to tolerance for people of other faiths and beliefs.

No exact estimate is possible. Registered independent schools in England belonging to the Christian Education Europe group (as shown on the group’s website) are known to use elements of the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) curriculum - although which elements they use, and how, varies from school to school. However, other independent schools may also use elements of the ACE curriculum.

There is no estimate available for the number of independent schools that teach a faith-based curriculum.

Although independent schools may declare a religious ethos, and some also have a designation as being a school of religious character, this does not necessarily mean that the curriculum used by the school is significantly affected by the faith in question. There are also some independent schools that offer a faith-based curriculum without having a declared faith ethos or a designation.

Independent schools must comply with the Independent School Standards Regulations. However, these do not require such schools to offer qualifications. The schools are free to offer any qualification, whether or not they are recognised and accredited by Ofqual. It is for parents to decide whether the provision offered by a particular independent school meets the needs of their children.

Figures on the number of pupils in independent schools in England are collected annually in the statutory school-level annual school census (SLASC). Figures from January 2017 by single year of age can be found in national table 1c of the statistical release ‘Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics’ available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.

As education is a devolved matter, statistics on schools are published separately by the four administrations. Therefore, figures on the number of pupils in independent schools in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales should be requested directly from the individual administrations.

Figures on the number of pupils in independent schools in England are collected annually in the statutory school-level annual school census (SLASC). Figures from January 2017 by single year of age can be found in national table 1c of the statistical release ‘Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics’ available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.

As education is a devolved matter, statistics on schools are published separately by the four administrations. Therefore, figures on the number of pupils in independent schools in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales should be requested directly from the individual administrations.

Figures on the number of pupils in independent schools in England are collected annually in the statutory school-level annual school census (SLASC). Figures from January 2017 by single year of age can be found in national table 1c of the statistical release ‘Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics’ available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.

As education is a devolved matter, statistics on schools are published separately by the four administrations. Therefore, figures on the number of pupils in independent schools in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales should be requested directly from the individual administrations.

Figures on the number of pupils in independent schools in England are collected annually in the statutory school-level annual school census (SLASC). Figures from January 2017 by single year of age can be found in national table 1c of the statistical release ‘Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics’ available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers.

As education is a devolved matter, statistics on schools are published separately by the four administrations. Therefore, figures on the number of pupils in independent schools in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales should be requested directly from the individual administrations.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 06 July 2017 to Question 1921.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2017-06-29/1921/