Pupils in primary and lower secondary school, 1 October 2012

The number of private primary and lower secondary schools has been relatively stable since 2005, but there has been an increase of 20 private schools over the last two years. In 2012, six per cent of all primary and lower secondary schools were private.

More pupils in private schools

In autumn 2012, there were 615 000 pupils in primary and lower secondary schools. The total number of pupils has been stable over the last year, whereas the number of pupils in private schools has increased by nine per cent from the previous year. A total of 18 200 pupils, or three per cent of all pupils, were in private schools. Compared with Norway’s neighbouring countries, the proportion of pupils in private schools is low. In Sweden and Denmark, 12 and 15 per cent of all pupils in primary and lower secondary schools were in private schools in 2011 respectively.¹

Fewer small schools

In total, there were 2 957 primary and lower secondary schools in Norway in 2012, which is a decrease of 43 from the previous year. Over the last 10 years there has been a considerable reduction in the number of primary schools, while the number of combined and lower secondary schools has only had a small decrease.

During the last seven years there has been a gradual decrease of small schools from 37 to 32 per cent of all schools. Only 7.5 per cent of all pupils attend small schools with less than 100 pupils. Most pupils attend schools with more than 300 pupils.

The average school size has increased by 13 per cent in the last 10 years. In 2012, the average school size was 208 pupils per school.

¹Source: Skolverket and Statistics Denmark

Tables:

• Table 1 Primary and lower secondary schools. Pupils in primary and lower secondary school. School years 2002/03-2012/13
• Table 2 Pupils in primary and lower secondary school who receive special education, by county. Final figures, 1 October 2012
• Table 3 Pupils who receive special education. Total number and proportion. School years 2007/08-2012/13
• Table 4 Primary and lower secondary pupils and primary and lower secondary schools, by ownership. School years 2002/03-2012/13
• Table 5 Schools and pupils, by school size. School years 2005/06-2012/13. Per cent
• Table 6 Pupils with native language training, bilingual education and additional training in Norwegian, by county. Final figures, 1 October 2012
• Table 7 Pupils with native language training and additional training in Norwegian. School years 2008/09-2012/13
• Table 8 Pupils, by official form of Norwegian and county. Final figures, 1 October 2012