The number of kids being sent to public schools in WA has gone backwards in the past year while private school enrolments have increased — with their rapid responses to the problems thrown up by the COVID-19 pandemic cited as a key reason.

Latest Education Department census data has revealed the number of students enrolled in WA private schools this year rose to 157,864 — up by 3710 compared with the same time last year.

At the same time, enrolments in public schools dropped by 1242 pupils to 318,332 children.

This meant the public schools’ overall share of the WA market fell for a second consecutive year, from 67.5 per cent to 66.8 per cent, after eight years of solid growth.

Sunrise correspondent Matt Tinney has the details.

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