AN independent school where violinist Nicola Benedetti studied will keep its charitable status after an assessment by the regulator.

Wellington School in Ayr had been given six months to change its policy after the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) said it was not offering enough help to pupils from deprived backgrounds.

The regulator said yesterday that the school, which charges fees of around £10,700 a year for senior pupils, had taken action to provide enough means-tested support to address the level of its fees and it now met the charity test.

Two schools - St Columba's School Loretto School - are still facing directions to widen access.

Martin Tyson, OSCR's head of registration, said that the process was intended to maintain public confidence in charitable status.