I know that I am not the only one having sleepless nights about the explosion in the early years population but according to the latest figures from the Department for Children, Schools and Families overall the number of children and young people continues to fall in our schools...

I find it hard to believe but the figures suggest that between 2005 and 2009, primary schools lost about 130,000 children, or a reduction of about 3%. In secondary schools, the decline has been nearly 110,000, concentrated in the 11-16 age group with numbers in sixth forms actually increasing by about 35,000. Interestingly, the number of children being educated in special schools remained constant at about 84,500; falling slightly over the period before rising again over the past two years.

The number of young people in our secondary schools is projected to fall further as the current small age cohorts move through from the primary schools. However the number of under-5s has increased by about 40,000 in the past five years, and, according to the Office for National Statistics, the current record birth rate means this rise is set to continue into the foreseeable future.

Makes planning for the future really interesting.
Chris