It is much smaller than most other urban secondary schools and most of its pupils are fully funded by the Scottish Government under the Aided Places scheme, with fees set by the Scottish Government and approved by way of regulations laid in the Scottish Parliament.xxxixCurrently, the St Mary’s Music School (Aided Places) (Scotland) Regulations 2015 (Most remaining pupils are in receipt of full bursaries.)
The Minister told the Committee that the Government had been persuaded by the evidence before it that St Mary's was a special case because of its specialist musical curriculum and its cultural contribution over the years, and that this was why distinct provision was made for it in the Bill.