Record numbers of children attended private schools this week, boosting total numbers in private education to more than 3,000.

Over the past five years, student numbers in private education since 1991 have risen by a third with 2,177 private school students in 1991/92, 2,519 in 1994/95 and about 3,029 in 1995/96.

But this year's record figure partly reflects Warwick Academy's move to the private school system.

School principals attributed this year's large number of applications in part to parents' concerns with the restructuring of the public school system.

Bermuda Institute vice-principal Mrs. Kathleen Allers claimed application numbers were significantly up this year.

"We are going through a transition. There are parents who don't want to get caught in the change. They are looking at other options.'' Bermuda High School for Girls admissions director Mrs. Diane Gordon said she had been "inundated'' with inquiries from parents with children in Government schools. Saltus Grammar School principal Mr. Trevor Rowell also said applications this year were "very high''. "We are very nearly full,'' he said.

But Mount Saint Agnes principal Sister Judith Rollo blamed lack of confidence in the Government school system on bad press.

Education Minister Mr. Jerome Dill yesterday admitted the increase in private school enrolment was "to a certain extent'' due to nervousness with restructuring.

Students flock to private schools "Restructuring requires change,'' he said. "No matter how good the system is going to be, there are going to be some individuals who are not prepared to change.'' But he claimed, parents' fears were "not well founded at this stage''. All five private schools: Bermuda Institute, Warwick Academy, Mount Saint Agnes, Saltus Grammar School and Bermuda High School for Girls reported booming student numbers. Four out of the five are starting the year with their highest numbers ever.

In certain age groups, candidates have been put on waiting lists and will be slotted in when places become available.

Principal of Warwick Academy Mr. Bernard Beacroft claimed the school had received "hundreds'' of applications since it moved to the private system on September 1.

But numbers at the school remained close to last year's figure of 520 because of a reduction in forms and class sizes.

"One of the bonuses of private school education is that class sizes are smaller than in the public system. It explains the fall in numbers,'' he said.

But overall, he claimed there had been more applications than places available.

"Restructuring is a probable factor in all of this,'' he said. "It's a powerful change that will take place in the public system.

Parents he said, did not want their children to be part of the experimental years. "They want to safeguard their kids and are looking to private schools,'' he said.

Bermuda High School's new principal Mrs. Eleanor Kingsbury said student numbers had leapt from 587 last year to 615.

Over the past five years, BHS has grown by between 80 and 90 extra students.

Mrs. Kingsbury claimed the school's popularity was indicative of its good GCSE and IGCSE results. But she admitted that if other private schools also reported record application numbers, it suggested concerns within the community about the public school system.

Admissions director, Mrs. Gordon said numbers had risen steadily over the past two years.

In particular she noted a preponderance of last-minute applications especially from ex-patriates, Bermudians returning from overseas and Bermudians unhappy with changes in the Government school system.

Mount Saint Agnes principal Sister Rollo, claimed the school had always received more applications than places even before the issue of restructuring was raised.

"Many parents are scared because it is constantly in the news. They don't want something negative to impact on their children.' "People who felt in the past they would get good public education now have the perception that this may not be happening. They are prepared to make extra sacrifices.'' But she said a wave of negative press had upset parents and did a disservice to Bermuda's youth. It was very important that adults acted like good role models by behaving positively, she said.

CLASSMATES -- This group of Primary Four students at Dellwood yesterday could not contain their excitement about returning to school. Pictured, at front from left, are Leanna Samuels, Caurie Daniels, and Rebecca Phillips. In the back row, from left, are Rikeisha Dickinson, Undreah Castle, and Shahnel Woodley.