St Mary's Music School Aided Places Scheme 2026-27: equality impact assessment (EQIA)
St Mary’s Music School (“the School”) is Scotland’s only independent specialist music school, offering music and academic education to musically gifted children and young people aged 9 to 19 years.
Stage 1: Framing
Results of framing exercise
The Scottish Government has assessed any potential impacts of an increase to fees at the School on equal opportunities and has determined that these do not directly or indirectly discriminate with respect to any of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 (age, disability, sex, pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership).
Impacts of an increase to fees are not expected to be significant. Ministers have no part in the admissions process or the selection of pupils at the School. As of September 2025, the School had 73 pupils, and as of May 2026, 75 pupils, capacity remains at around 80 pupils. In the academic year 2025-26, all 51 of the aided places were taken up. Therefore, the Scottish Government subsidised fees for 80% of pupils at the School. The School expects this rate of uptake to continue. The School also has funded bursaries and instrument loan arrangements available which could be used to further mitigate financial barriers for its pupils.
Extent/Level of EQIA required
This EQIA will be carried out taking into account the low risk of an increase to fees at the School causing any negative impact on people with protected characteristics.
Scottish Government has had extensive engagement with the School, including site visits, and reviewed the School’s October 2024 HMI inspection, and we are satisfied that promotion of equality of opportunity is integrated into the culture of the School.
The School has an extensive portfolio of outreach activities to promote the educational opportunities it offers but musical ability remains the priority within the entry criteria. Consideration of protected characteristics data is not therefore core to this assessment.