42 . Glasgow Business October 2015
Independent schools offer a wide range of extra curricular activities
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justify its charitable status. At the end of its investigations,
the OSCR published its report, ‘Fee-charging schools, public benefit and charitable status’, which confirmed that ten top Scotish schools meet key tests of providing public good. Tis is born out by the amount
of bursaries and financial support independent schools give children and the growing outreach they do in their communities. According to the SCIS,
independent schools provided at least £45.5 million in financial assistance in the 2014-15 academic year to widen access to education to those families that cannot afford it. Te majority of
” The independent school sector is also a large contributor to the Exchequer and the local economy through the supply chain”
this sum will be means-tested, covering up to 100 per cent of school fees and charges. Te SCIS estimates that last
year more than 600 pupils throughout Scotland received 100 per cent means-tested bursaries – the equivalent to a fully funded medium-sized secondary school. An additional 6,300 pupils received other forms of financial assistance such as scholarships and discounts for school fees. Te SCIS said that the OSCR
put the independent school sector under more rigorous and in-depth scrutiny than other groups of Scotish charities and that its report makes it clear that the schools have a good awareness of what is required of them under their charitable status. Te independent school sector
is also a large contributor to the Exchequer and the local economy through the supply chain. In a SCIS-funded report on the sector’s economic contribution to
the Scotish economy, the gross value added in 2013 was estimated at £445.8 million, which also supported 7,513 employees but a total of 11,240 jobs when the whole supply chain is included. Te 2013 figures included
£263 million to the exchequer, £27.8 million for the Scotish economy in export earnings, and £35.2 million in financial assistance to broaden access to education – a figure that has since increased by £10 million this year. So, while the sector has grown
into a nearly £0.5 billion industry its charitable origins are still alive and respectful of the many philanthropists who originally created these schools with the aim of providing a good education for
Photo: Hutchesons’ Grammar School
Photo: St Columba’s School
Photo: St Columba’s School
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