A recent study has shown the amount of secondary students at private schools has jumped by around 70 per cent since 2012.

Press PLAY below to hear the reasons for the jump

The proportion of students at Independent schools has also risen by almost 23 per cent the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Annual Statistical Report found.

Dr Sally Larsen from the University of New England said the figures are “fairly surprising”.

“It’s been a trend for a long time, and it’s driven by government policy settings essentially,” she said on 3AW Drive.

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