Friday, February 13, 2015

Scotland's Haves and the Have-Nots


Poverty Alliance identified 167 different organisations providing emergency food to struggling Scots. It claimed there is now a "real danger that emergency food aid provision may become a permanent feature of the welfare landscape in Scotland".

Report author Mary Anne MacLeod stated: "It is crucial to understand that we are not just dealing with a problem simply of food, but of poverty and inequality.”

Meanwhile, Blair’s old college has overtaken Prince Charles’ alma mater to become Scotland’s most expensive school. The fees charged by Fettes College, now outstrip Gordonstoun, in three out of four categories, according to the schools’ websites. Fettes now charges over £23,000 a year for senior day pupils – just ahead of Gordonstoun. Fettes’ sky-high fees, say experts, are partly the result of super-rich parents from overseas picking the Scottish capital its combination of relative safety and cultural richness.

Today’s parents have to find £21,825 a year to send junior pupils to board at Fettes – £918 more than Gordonston. Junior day pupils at the city school will cost parents £13,965 a year – £1,110 more than Gordonstoun. Senior day pupils at Fettes have to pay £23,190 a year to attended the prestigious school – £108 more than Gordonston. The only category where Gordonston remains the most expensive in Scotland is for senior boarders currently priced at £30,885 a year – but only £235 a term more than Fettes.

Loretto in Musselburgh is not far behind with fees of £29,460 a year for senior boarders. Merchiston, in Edinburgh, charges £28,560 for senior borders. Dollar Academy charges £25,524 a year for senior borders and £11,034 for day pupils. The High School, Glasgow, charges up to £10,500 a year for day pupils while in Aberdeen Albyn School charges £11,520 a year for senior day pupils.

No comments: