Department for Education · 5 July 2024 – present
Pupils in primary school classes during the Labour 2024– government
↓ 4.8%−198,379 pupils
Pupils in primary school classes fell by 4.8% over the period, from 4,172,511 pupils (2022/23 academic year, the level when the government took office) to 3,974,132 (2025/26 academic year, the latest available). That is an average of −1.6% a year over the term.
- Inherited level 2022/23 academic year: 4,172,511
- Latest 2025/26 academic year: 3,974,132
- method: latest complete period before start / before end
Changes during this period do not by themselves show what the government caused. Statistics reflect many influences, including earlier decisions, the economy and how the data is collected.
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 |
Definition and caveats
The number of pupils taught in classes in state-funded primary schools in England, counted in the January school census as taught during one selected period.
Doesn’t measure: Pupils in independent schools or alternative provision, or class sizes at other times of the school day: the census records one selected period.