A FALL in the number of children boarding at private schools has been blamed on Government-imposed costs.

The Independent Schools Council has released figures which show that although overall figures are up, the number of boarders is down.

It says this is due to a "larger than usual" rise in fees during 2003, which was a result of costs imposed by the Government.

The census showed that numbers in private schools have risen uninterruptedly from 1995-96.

Day numbers have continued the growth of recent years and were up by 0.3 per cent last year, but the number of boarders has fallen.

The national director of the ISC, David Woodhead, said: "While the overall growth in numbers is smaller than recent years, it must be seen in the context of substantially higher fees attributable to an unusual combination of cost pressures in schools."

Pressures highlighted by the ISC include an increase in schools' contributions to teachers' pensions and a rise in employers' National Insurance contributions.

Other contributing factors include a rise in charges for Criminal Records Bureau checks on staff and new charges for welfare inspections.

The number of pupils receiving financial assistance from their schools continued to rise reaching a record level of 116,120 - which represents 23 per cent.

Mr Woodhead said: "Nine years of continuous growth represents a huge achievement for independent schools.

"There is no evidence that parental demand for the excellence they represent is diminishing in any way and their only limit is capacity."

Updated: 11:41 Wednesday, May 05, 2004