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Sample size

The issued main academic year 2024-25 (Year 8) sample contained 5,652 schools in total, which is 27% of those in the sample frame.

The following table presents a breakdown of the academic year 2024-25 (Year 8) sample by type of school.

In addition to the main issued sample, there were reserve schools in the sample, some of which were issued during the course of the year in response to shortfalls in particular local authorities, or because those schools opted into the survey.

Only the issued or opted in reserve sample schools are shown in the following table. If a reserve sample school opted in, the data were included in the national data.

Selected sample issued for fieldwork by type of school

Type of school Number of main sample schools Number of issued reserve sample schools Number of issued schools (total)
State primary 2,974 541 3,515
State secondary 2,308 140 2,448
Independent 370 0 370

The following table presents a breakdown of the issued main academic year 2024-25 (Year 8) sample by year group and term of original issue.

The number of year groups is uneven because independent schools include fewer infant year groups.

Breakdown of selected year groups by school year and term (main sample only)

Year group Autumn Spring Summer Total
Year 1 501 512 514 1,527
Year 2 508 513 513 1,534
Year 3 490 503 519 1,512
Year 4 514 487 492 1,493
Year 5 533 546 550 1,629
Year 6 558 535 557 1,650
Year 7 473 502 531 1,506
Year 8 502 482 516 1,500
Year 9 490 488 519 1,497
Year 10 482 464 539 1,485
Year 11 561 595 358 1,514
Total 5,612 5,597 5,608 16,817

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