The information available can be found in the following table:
Number Percentage 2003 15,755 19.4 2004 16,324 19.7 2005 15,348 19.3 2006 14,726 18.9 2007 14,057 18.4 2008 13,338 17.9 Source: National Pupil Database (NPD).
Figures prior to 2003 are not available on a comparable basis.
The figures for 2003 and 2004 are for pupils aged 15. The figures for 2005-08 are based on pupils at the end of KS4.