The type of school a child attends is known to impact on educational attainment and later life outcomes. But there is very little persuasive empirical evidence (although widespread and varied anecdotal evidence) on why parents opt to take their children outside the state system.

As part of an international collaboration funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and the Australian Research Council*, researchers at the IFS and the Australian National University have sought to address this question by comparing the determinants of private school choice in both Australia and the UK. The experience of the two countries has been very different over the recent past. Whilst private school attendance has remained largely flat in the UK at around 6-7% of children, it has risen sharply in Australia with about a third of children currently attending a school outside the government sector. The level of public subsidies is also very different, with large public subsidies on offer in Australia and no direct subsidies in the UK.

On the morning of June 17, a conference will be held at IFS to launch the findings of this research programme. This will focus on a number of issues, including:

• Trends and role played by fees and public subsidies
• Effects of household incomes and income inequalities
• Role played by family characteristics and the level of inter-generational correlation
• Effects on educational attainment and wages
• Lessons for policymakers, including for the new UK government's plans to allow parents and other groups set up new schools.

We are also pleased to welcome Professor Susan Dynarski from the University of Michigan, who will be able to provide a US perspective on these issues by summarising her research on private schooling and charter schools in the US.

This conference will be held on June 17 at the IFS offices in Ridgmount Street, London. It will begin at 9.30 am and is expected to conclude by 11.30 am. Registration will take place from 9am.

*Grant: RES-000-22-2524