Best Schools - New scholarships for 40 pupils have been launched an independent school in Argyll following the deat

Lomond School in Helensburgh announced the grants, which fund up to half of its fees, following last year’s 40th anniversary celebrations and the death of principal David Arthur.

The means-tested scholarships will be offered to young people who excel academically, musically and in the creative arts or in sport.

Pupils aged from nine to 18 can apply before the March 29 deadline.

Johanna Urquhart, principal of Lomond School, said: “As we celebrate the past 40 years of our school and look forward to the future, we are conscious of a desire to offer places to many more young people who may not ordinarily have the opportunity to attend Lomond School.

“These 40 new scholarships will do just that, and we are very excited to welcome talented young people from all backgrounds to our Lomond School family.

Private schools face £100m raid by Government to fund teacher pensions which could lead to fee rises

The Department for Education has revealed that from September employer's contribution for teachers' pensions will rise from 16.48 per cent of their salaries to 23.6 per cent.

The change, which comes into force in September, will cost private schools an extra £110million from 2019-20 and nearly £200million the following year.

Private schools are now faced with either pulling out of the teachers' pension scheme, making them less attractive to new teachers, or raising fees.

Richard Harman, chief executive of the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools, said: “School governors face some very difficult choices. The unexpected proposal of a 43 per cent increase to employer pension contributions, coming on top of other cost pressures, is an unnecessary extra threat to funding of the whole education sector.

"The risk is that the TPS becomes unaffordable for many schools, colleges and universities across the spectrum. Budgets are already under great pressure and the danger is that this extra burden could ultimately divert money away from the education of children and students across the country.”