Private education in Britain is expanding. From about five per cent of the school population being in private schools during 1980, there are now more than seven per cent of children in these schools. For many centuries these schools have educated a large proportion of the leaders of the British society, and there is little indication of any great change in their importance. About a quarter of present university undergraduates were educated in private schools and about half of those at Oxford and Cambridge spent their teenage years in them.

Yet, despite their significance, private schools have been very little researched, and most of what has been published has been concerned with the major boys' public schools.

This book brings together new, specially commissioned chapters on private education. The first five deal with aspects of the 'traditional' private sector, but the others are concerned with the great diversity of schools within the 'new' private sector, which are rarely discussed. This aspect is valuable for those interested in political and policy aspects of private education, and will dispel various stereotyped views about the sector.

Private education in Britain is expanding. From about five per cent of the school population being in private schools during 1980, there are now more than seven per cent of children in these schools. For many centuries these schools have educated a large proportion of the leaders of the British society, and there is little indication of any great change in their importance. About a quarter of present university undergraduates were educated in private schools and about half of those at Oxford and Cambridge spent their teenage years in them.

Yet, despite their significance, private schools have been very little researched, and most of what has been published has been concerned with the major boys' public schools.