THE seemingly endless tales of burgeoning class sizes, unruly pupils, scarce resources and a shortage of teachers are pushing parents towards the private sector, according to new figures.

As state schools struggle to cope with the latest government initiatives it appears that independents, with their ability to dictate their own broader curriculum, are proving increasingly alluring to a growing number of parents.

According to the latest MORI survey for ISIS (Independent Schools Information Service), smaller class size is the biggest single factor influencing the decision to opt for independent rather than state schools.

A total of 35 per cent of parents, surveyed during the spring term 2001, cited class size as their principal reason for choosing an independent education for their children.

This is up from 25 per cent in the last survey in 1997.

And among prep school parents, the proportion citing class size was even higher 46 per cent.

The survey the fourth of its kind commissioned by ISIS was carried out by consulting and questioning more than 700 parents selected from a representative sample of 63 primary and secondary member schools.

Published under the title of Why and How Parents Choose Independent Schools, the results of the survey give a unique insight into parents' reasons for choosing the independent schools option during a period of strong growth in this sector.

A spokesman from MORI said: "Parents are becoming increasingly discriminating when selecting an independent school.

"They are more concerned about specific advantages that they perceive independent education to offer.

"These advantages include smaller class sizes, high quality teachers, discipline and an environment which enables children to take a responsible attitude to their work.

"The more modern and positive image of boarding schools could be associated with the perception that they now have a broader intake of pupils, especially among those whose parents live overseas, and that they are now less elitist.

"There is less concern that boarding education has an adverse affect on the child/parent relationship and that it cuts children off from society."

The MORI spokesman added that: "Parents are less likely to plan in advance which school to send their child to a finding consistent with the evidently increasing pragmatism of parents in all aspects of school choice.

"The evident lack of forward planning for the payment of school fees among middle class, independently educated and boarding school parents continues to be a matter of concern, in the light of rising independent school fees."

National ISIS director, David Woodhead said of the findings: "Educationalists argue about how much difference class size makes.

"Parents apply a common sense equation smaller classes mean more individual attention. And more attention means more personal fulfilment. That is what they find in independent schools and what their fees will buy."

In the 12 years that ISIS has commissioned these major surveys, the proportion rejecting state schools has remained virtually unchanged at 20 per cent despite concerted attempts by successive governments to improve standards.

However, in St Albans at least, it appears that independent schools have continued to grow in popularity compared to their state-run counterparts.

At prep level, Homewood Independent School in Park Street admitted seeing a "significant rise" in the number of applications it receives each year, while St Columba's College Preparatory School has reported a 20 per cent increase in applicants over the last three years.

At secondary level it seems that fears of exam congestion, teacher shortages and a more restricted curriculum have sent parents scurrying towards the private sector in droves, despite incurring costs of up to £6,000 a year.

Mr Tony Smith, director of admissions at St Columba's College in King Harry Lane, St Albans, said the school now received 100 per cent more applications from 11 year olds than it did five years ago.

With three applicants battling for each available place the school can afford to be picky about its intake ensuring its success continues further down the line.

"There's never one easy answer why parents choose an independent school for their child," said Mr Smith. "It can be the provision of extra-curricular activities, the level of pastoral care, the favourable teacher/pupil ratios or simply the environment itself."

With around 70 per cent of Year Seven pupils coming from schools outside the district, Mr Smith admits that St Columba's enjoys an enviable reputation, attracting many of its new pupils through word of mouth.

However, while independent schools have enjoyed a revival in recent years, research suggests that annual league tables still play a decisive factor in influencing parental decisions. And with four state schools currently placed among the 11 highest achieving secondaries in the county, Hertfordshire parents are fortunate enough to be blessed with a tantalizing choice as to whether or not they wish to pay for their child's education.

Mrs Janet Lewis, headteacher of Sandringham School and spokesman for all the state secondaries in St Albans and Harpenden, said that her own school was just as oversubscribed as usual.

She said: "We're still seeing a steady stream of casual admissions and we had over a thousand people to our open evening. I am aware of a drain of staff to the independent sector, but that's a national problem and in this area many young teachers are attracted by the accommodation provided by these schools."

Mrs Lewis said that while parents often chose a private school because it offered single sex education, a number of pupils returned to the state sector at sixth form because a mixed environment was then deemed preferable.

She said: "There will always be parents who want to pay for a private education, but we're fortunate in this area to have such a strong state sector that it's not really necessary."

November 6, 2001 10:30