A column chart from the Institute for Government showing the percentage change in primary school pupil numbers, 2018–19 to 2024–25, by rurality, where pupil numbers have fallen across all areas. The sharpest decline was in London (–8.2%), but this is not part of a wider urban trend. The other biggest drops are all in areas that are further from major towns or cities, with the second biggest in smaller rural areas further from major towns or cities (–6.9%) .