Last week I met Robin Scorthorne, vice chair and business advisor on the Cedars School Board, following the news that the school will be closing its doors next month.

Robin highlighted a range of factors leading to this decision, including falling roll numbers, but cited the UK Government’s decision to place a new 20 per cent VAT charge on private schools as the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Regardless of people’s opinions about private education, at the end of the day, this will disrupt children’s learning, their friendship groups and their routine. They didn’t ask for this, and through no fault of their own will have to adapt to another school setting and way of teaching.

In the case of Cedars, this will have an especially big impact on the pupils given the number of children with additional support needs (ASN). While, again, they are from families who can afford private schooling, I worry about the toll this will take on their wellbeing and learning.

People may find my position interesting given that the SNP has a similar policy approach to private schools – and for the most part I agree with that policy – but as the local MSP, I recognise that Cedars is not like your large private schools in other parts of Scotland and indeed the UK. For example, 25 per cent of children in Edinburgh are educated privately.

If it were my party making this blanket policy decision, I would argue for exemptions to be made for small schools like Cedars. This is because I understand the detrimental impact such a policy would have on the school (indeed, it’s been part of the reason for their closure), and because the amount of tax the public purse would miss out on by exempting Cedars would likely be negated by the cost that the state would otherwise incur to educate the pupils in public schools.

I want to thank Robin and the Board for their efforts to avoid the school’s closure and wish the teachers and staff all the best as they now seek alternative employment.

I know the education authority are working hard to support parents and pupils to find suitable schooling arrangements and will be thinking of the young people affected as they come to terms with this change.

I also had the pleasure of meeting with Jennifer Freeman from the Port Glasgow Otters last week.

The Otters do fantastic work in helping people of all ages with disabilities to learn how to swim and to improve their technique. They are a credit to our community and are always on the lookout for volunteer coaches who are eager to make a difference.

If you think this might be you or someone you know, please get in contact with Jennifer by emailing portglasgowotters@gmail.com.