Department for Education written question – answered at on 7 November 2025.
Lord Lexden
Deputy Chairman of Committees, Deputy Speaker (Lords)
To ask His Majesty's Government how many pupils at independent schools which are inspected by Ofsted have places that are fully funded by local authorities.
Lord Lexden
Deputy Chairman of Committees, Deputy Speaker (Lords)
To ask His Majesty's Government how many of the independent schools inspected by Ofsted educate children with special needs.
Lord Lexden
Deputy Chairman of Committees, Deputy Speaker (Lords)
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the total number of pupils with special needs who are being educated at independent schools which are inspected by Ofsted.
Baroness Smith of Malvern
Minister of State (Education), Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities) , The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions
According to the register of independent schools, there are around 30,000 pupils with identified special educational needs either with or without an education health and care plan attending independent schools inspected by Ofsted, out of a total school population of 9,032,426. This data is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2024-25.
The matter of fully funded placements in independent schools is governed by contractual agreements between the individual independent schools and the commissioning local authorities. As such, the department does not collect or hold data on the number of places in independent schools that are fully funded by local authorities.
Yes1 person thinks so
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