PUPIL numbers at Independent Schools Council (ISC) schools are at their highest levels since records began, figures released by to a recent survey.

Figures released by the ISC show that more parents are paying to have their children educated at independent schools.

According to the ISC Annual Census 2015, a census taken of all ISC schools throughout the UK There are now 517,113 pupils at ISC schools, up from 511,928 in 2014.

Richard Milner-Smith Headteacher at Moyles Court, an independent school in the New Forest said: “Independent schools like Moyles Court can offer significantly smaller class sizes and so provide a much more individualised learning experience.

This means that not only do they make excellent academic progress but the level of pastoral care is excellent too.

“Parents are increasingly identifying the great flexibility that independent schools such as ours can provide as well.

"The wide range of extra curricular activities on offer not only develop important life skills, but also mean that the school day fits easily into the lives of busy, working parents.

"Many schools such as ours will also offer the possibility of flexi-boarding which increases that flexibility further.

“The report also highlights that fees have increased across the country, whereas we have managed to reduce our fees by 15 per cent.

"Actions such as this are making independent education possible those families who had previously thought it was out of their reach.”