Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the share size that private for-profit companies have of the market for residential special educational needs schools; what assessment they have made of whether competition in that sector is reducing; and what discussions they have had with the Competition and Markets Authority concerning investigations into that sector.

There are currently 148 residential special schools in England: 26 are maintained schools, 32 are non-maintained special schools, 35 are academy and free schools, 55 are independent schools.

The department does not systematically collect data on the type of companies that own schools. Therefore, the department does not disaggregate these results based on whether they are owned by private equity companies or not-for-profit organisations.

Of the 55 independent residential special schools, interrogation of the Independent School Register shows 16 are charities. Ofsted ratings show that 10 of these schools are rated outstanding, 39 are rated good, and six are rated as requires improvement.

The department has not made an assessment of the share size that private for-profit companies have of the market and has not been in discussion with the Competition and Markets Authority about this sector.