A Department for Education and Skills (DfES) survey carried out last year found private schools in England accounted for 580,300 children, up from 571,600 in 2001.

This represented 7.09% of the country's 8,187,200 pupils.

The proportion increased from 6.98% in 2001, and 6.91% in 2000.

'First-time buyers'

The Independent Schools Council (ISC), whose members educate 80% of pupils in the sector, recently said fees had risen by 7%, on top of 7.5% the previous year.

The UK inflation rate is currently 3%.

Average full boarding fees were �16,776, while the figure for day pupils was �7,188.

A separate ISC survey of 5,500 parents in England, Wales and Scotland has found parents place a higher value on private schools which teach children to respect each other than on those where academic success is the number one priority.

The poll found fostering respect and paying close attention to the well-being of their pupils - plus an insistence on good manners - were the most sought-after qualities in the independent sector.

By contrast, high academic achievement came 29th on a list of 37 desirable features or qualities, and schools' league table positions were 33rd.

ISC spokesman Dick Davison said parents were looking for "something more than exam success" for their children, including a good social mix of pupils, smart uniforms and regular academic assessment.

In 1972, when the Pupil Projections survey began, the number in independent schools was 523,800, which then represented 6.12% of the school population.