A new report by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) into the charitable status of 11 independent schools in Scotland shows they will continue to play a major part in Scottish education, Conservative MSP Liz Smith has suggested.

She made these comments despite the fact that the OSCR reported that four of Scotland's leading private schools could lose their charitable status and thousands of pounds annually in tax relief unless they make significant changes.

However, Smith insisted: "OSCR's statement this morning confirms that the independent schools are expected to continue playing a leading role in Scottish education and, in doing so, to make ensure that the benefits of private education are accessible to as wide a cross-section of pupils as possible.

"This is a matter which the Scottish Council of Independent Schools takes very seriously. Already a huge amount of work has been undertaken by the sector as a whole to extend the number of bursary places available and to allow greater use of private schools’ facilities by members of the public."

She acknowledged: “Obviously, four schools have been told that they will be required to do more in these respects but I have no doubt they will respond in a positive manner and that they will be able to deliver further benefits in the future.

"Far from restricting the activities of the private sector schools, which clearly some people want for political rather than educational reasons, I believe OSCR’s report will help more private schools to deliver a wider range of educational benefits across Scotland."

The schools highlighted in the report are Hutchesons' Grammar School  in Glasgow, Lomond School in Helensburgh, St Leonards in St Andrews, and Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh.