ÌÇÐÄVlog

Half of state primary school pupils are now educated in an academy, according to the latest government data.

A year ago, figures showed that the total number of academies had outnumbered maintained schools for the first time - and that divide has continued to grow.

The Department for Education has published the figures in a of schools, pupils and their characteristics, taken from its latest census data.

Here are some of the trends in six key areas:

1. Growth of academies

The , for 2025-26, shows there are 11,816 academies and 10,186 maintained schools (a difference of 1,630). In 2024-25, there were 11,280 academies and 10,743 maintained schools (a difference of 537).

In January 2026, 48.2 per cent of all schools - including independent schools - were academies (up from 46.1 per cent in 2025), while 60.4 per cent of pupils were attending an academy (up from 58.4 per cent).

As of January 2026, 48.8 per cent of stateÌýprimary schools are academies or free schools (46.1 per cent in 2025), accounting for half (49.9 per cent) of the primary school population, up from 47.3 per cent in 2025.

Meanwhile, 83.9 per cent of state secondary schools are academies or free schools (up from 83 per cent), accounting for 83.6 per cent of secondary students (82.7 per cent in 2025).

And 53.1 per cent of state-funded special schools are academies or free schools (up from 49.6 per cent), encompassing 49.7 per cent of special school pupils (46.4 per cent in 2025).

2. Free school meals

The number of pupils eligible for free school meals has continued to increase.

In January 2026, more than 2.2 million pupils - or 26.5 per cent of all pupils - were eligible for free school meals. This is an increase of 43,100 since January 2025, when 25.7 per cent were eligible, and continues the increasing trend that began in 2018-19.

The data also shows 1.6 million infant pupils were recorded as taking a free school meal on census day.

Of those, almost 1.2 million are not normally eligible and received meals under the Universal Infant FSM policy.

The proportion of infant pupils taking a free school meal on census day rose to 88.4 per cent in 2025-26, from 88.2 per cent in 2024-25, continuing an increasing trend since 2022-23.

Last year, theÌýLabour government announcedÌýthat all children living in households in receipt of universal credit will be eligible for free school meals from the start of the 2026 school year.

3. Alternative provision

The number of pupils in state-funded alternative provision schools has decreased by 0.5 per cent to 16,600. This includes pupils placed by schools and local authorities, and whose sole or main registration is in a state-funded AP school.

The number of pupils in AP decreased between 2017-18 and 2021-22, but has since increased and returned to 2017-18 pupil numbers.

Some 66.1 per cent of pupils in AP schools are male; this proportion has been decreasing since 2021-22.

Pupils who are eligible for free school meals are disproportionately represented in AP schools (65.4 per cent, compared with 26.5 per cent in the overall school population).

There are a further 11,200 dual subsidiary enrolments in state-funded AP schools, but the DfE cautions that pupils can have multiple dual placements.

4. Infant class sizes down again

The average infant class size was 25.9 - a decrease of 0.3 percentage points since 2024-25, when the average of 26.2 pupils was described by the DfE as the lowest since 2009.

Between 2020-21 and 2023-24, average infant class sizes were stable following a period of decreases.

5. Pupil numbers drop

There were just over 8.9 million pupils in January 2026, a decrease of 112,200; this figure includes all state-funded and independent schools. There were fewer pupils in primary, secondary and independent schools compared with 2025.

The fall in pupil numbers is mostly attributed to demographic changes, following a peak of births in 2012.

The number of schools has increased slightly, by 20 to 24,499.

6. Fewer pupils in private schools

The number of pupils in private schools in England has fallen again, but the drop was sharper than last year.

There were 560,255 pupils in private schools in January 2026, 3.9 per cent down from 2025 and 5.6 per cent down from 2024. This represents 33,231 fewer pupils over two years.Ìý

The government’s policy to impose 20 per cent VAT on private school fees came into effect on 1 January 2025. After last year’s data was published, the DfE said that decreasing numbers reflected broader demographic trends as well as changes in the state sector.

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