Schools dig deep to help out parents

Private schools are handing out more money than ever to help out cash-strapped parents, with Fettes College paying a record £1.4 million last year.

The £27,000 a year school reportedly paid the cash to help the parents of 151 of its pupils.

The Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS) had said there was anecdotal evidence that schools were cutting back on bursaries to help children from less wealthy families to access education.

Schools which help those from poorer backgrounds enjoy charitable status and receive tax breaks.

A SCIS spokesman said: “Schools are very careful in their financial planning and many will have an additional pot of funding to support short-term financial difficulties.

“Despite the recession, pupil numbers in the independent sector have reduced by just over 0.4 per cent over the last year –exactly the same as the state sector.”