Department for Education · pupils
Pupils in primary school classes under each government
The full published series with each government’s time in office shaded. The table gives the level each government inherited and the last complete period before it left. Changes describe the period, not a cause. Definitions and caveats are on the metric page.
The chart as a table
| Period | Pupils in primary school classes |
|---|---|
| 2015/16 academic year | 4,193,180 pupils |
| 2016/17 academic year | 4,265,334 pupils |
| 2017/18 academic year | 4,290,659 pupils |
| 2018/19 academic year | 4,297,570 pupils |
| 2019/20 academic year | 4,272,738 pupils |
| 2020/21 academic year | 4,177,058 pupils |
| 2021/22 academic year | 4,169,888 pupils |
| 2022/23 academic year | 4,172,511 pupils |
| 2023/24 academic year | 4,133,588 pupils |
| 2024/25 academic year | 4,084,205 pupils |
| 2025/26 academic year | 3,974,132 pupils |
| Government | Inherited | Left at / latest | Change during government |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labour 2024–5 July 2024 – present | 4,172,5112022/23 academic year | 3,974,1322025/26 academic year | ↓ 4.8%−198,379 |
| Conservative 2019–202413 December 2019 – 5 July 2024 | 4,297,5702018/19 academic year | 4,172,5112022/23 academic year | ↓ 2.9%−125,059 |
| Conservative 2017–20199 June 2017 – 13 December 2019 | 4,193,1802015/16 academic year | 4,297,5702018/19 academic year | ↑ 2.5%+104,390 |
| Conservative 2015–20178 May 2015 – 9 June 2017 | No complete period was published before this government took office. | ||
| Coalition 2010–201511 May 2010 – 8 May 2015 | No complete period was published before this government took office. | ||
| Labour 2005–20106 May 2005 – 11 May 2010 | No complete period was published before this government took office. | ||
| Labour 2001–20058 June 2001 – 5 May 2005 | No complete period was published before this government took office. | ||
| Labour 1997–20012 May 1997 – 7 June 2001 | No complete period was published before this government took office. | ||
| Conservative 1992–199710 April 1992 – 2 May 1997 | No complete period was published before this government took office. | ||
| Conservative 1987–199212 June 1987 – 9 April 1992 | No complete period was published before this government took office. | ||
| Conservative 1983–198710 June 1983 – 11 June 1987 | No complete period was published before this government took office. | ||
| Conservative 1979–19834 May 1979 – 9 June 1983 | No complete period was published before this government took office. | ||