Schools' development sector news
Keep up to date on news from across the schools' development, education and charity sectors with our sector news area exclusively for IDPE members.
Select an issue below to jump to a specific month, or click 'View all as a list' and then 'Show archived' to view older news.
IDPE endeavours to keep individuals from the schools' sector up-to-date with relevant news from the education and charitable sectors, and news stories are selected based on their relevance. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed in these articles do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of IDPE.
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Issue: legacy
View another issueFree AI training programme for UK charities launched
Thursday, 27 November 2025Charity Excellence has launched a set of free artificial intelligence training courses for charities in partnership with Microsoft.
The platform...
The platform...
Budget offers 'little to celebrate' for charities, say sector bodies
Thursday, 27 November 2025Charity sector bodies have criticised chancellor Rachel Reeves' budget for offering little in the way of support for voluntary organisations.
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Budget 2025: Everything school leaders need to know
Thursday, 27 November 2025The government has announced it will absorb spiraling costs of SEND provision from 2028, scrap the two-child benefit cap and invest millions into secondary...
In-depth: Reeves' much-anticipated second autumn budget
Thursday, 27 November 2025Ahead of her budget yesterday, charities and community organisations had one simple ask for chancellor Rachel Reeves: Do not place further pressure on...
Fundraising Regulator appoints three board members
Thursday, 27 November 2025The Fundraising Regulator has made changes to its board, with three members – Josephine Swinhoe, Ian Karet and Barbara Kasumu – set to join...
Inheritance tax and lifetime gifting: Should you act before the 26 November?
Thursday, 20 November 2025With potential reforms expected in November's Budget, individuals may wish to seek advice on lifetime gifting sooner rather than later.
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SEA Commercial Benchmarking Survey 2025 now live for responses
Thursday, 20 November 2025This survey is a vital first step in providing schools and the sector with robust benchmarking data for commercial operations in schools. Now more than...
CIOF calls for charities to sign Donor Code of Conduct pledge
Thursday, 20 November 2025The Chartered Institute of Fundraising, along with Rogare - the Fundraising Think Tank, has today called on charities across the UK to sign a pledge committing...
Changes to charity accounting and reporting
Thursday, 13 November 2025If your charity prepares accruals accounts you must follow the Charities SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice). The Charities SORP has recently been...
Five key takeaways from our code webinar - Fundraising Regulator
Thursday, 13 November 2025By Conor Gibson, Policy Manager
More than 1,600 fundraisers and charity leaders joined our Are you code confident? webinar on 15 October to...
More than 1,600 fundraisers and charity leaders joined our Are you code confident? webinar on 15 October to...
Women more likely to be 'super givers' to charities than men, CAF research finds
Thursday, 13 November 2025Women are more likely to be "super givers" – meaning they have donated money, donated goods, volunteered, fundraised for a charity and sponsored...
Julia Unwin named as government's choice for next Charity Commission chair
Thursday, 6 November 2025The government has named experienced sector leader Julia Unwin as its preferred candidate to be the next chair of the Charity Commission. Unwin, who previously...
House of Commons written question: Impact of VAT on fees on music and dance schools
Thursday, 6 November 2025Louie French, shadow minister for culture, media and sport, submitted a written question in the House of Commons asking what assessment the chancellor...
'Significantly refreshed' Charity Governance Code published
Thursday, 6 November 2025An updated version of the Charity Governance Code has been published, with increased focus on trustee behaviours and inclusion. Following a consultation...
Charity Commission News: Counting down to Trustees' Week 3-7 November 2025
Wednesday, 29 October 2025Trustees' Week is an annual celebration of the incredible impact made by you and your fellow trustees - including the nearly one million trustees from...
Government defends VAT on fees
Wednesday, 29 October 2025Sources at the Treasury said that despite more pupils moving into the state sector than predicted following the introduction of VAT on private school fees,...
£20 million #iwill Fund returns to help young people
Wednesday, 29 October 2025Young people across England, particularly those facing disadvantage, discrimination, or underrepresentation, have an opportunity to lead change in their...
Independent School Management Plus Autumn 2025
Thursday, 23 October 2025IDPE featured articles:
Leading schools through uncertainty: what the schools' fundraising and engagement data tells us - page 35
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Leading schools through uncertainty: what the schools' fundraising and engagement data tells us - page 35
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PUBLICATION - The Modern Philanthropist by Barclays
Thursday, 23 October 2025Barclays Private Bank's 2025 report, The Modern Philanthropist, highlights a significant shift in charitable giving among UK high-net-worth individuals...
IDPE schools amongst winners of Independent School of the Year 2025 Awards
Wednesday, 22 October 2025Several IDPE member schools were celebrated among this year's winners and finalists.
IDPE extends its heartfelt congratulations to all the schools...
IDPE extends its heartfelt congratulations to all the schools...
Badenoch says she will scrap Labour tax rises on schools, farms, and family businesses
Wednesday, 22 October 2025On 8 October, Kemi Badenoch, a senior Conservative politician, announced plans to reverse certain Labour Party policies if the Conservatives return to...
Charities must prepare workers for 'seismic forces' of AI, expert says
Wednesday, 22 October 2025Charity leaders are being urged to prepare their workforce for the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI), which will affect all aspects...
Ministers expected independent schools to absorb 1% of VAT from profits
Wednesday, 22 October 2025A recent Freedom of Information request revealed that UK ministers expected independent schools to absorb less than 1% of the VAT on fees policy from their...
Why heads are at the heart of fundraising success
Wednesday, 22 October 2025A recent report underscores the pivotal role that school heads play in fundraising success. Schools raising over £500,000 annually have heads actively...
Donations from wealthy people increasing but lack of impact reporting a barrier, report says
Tuesday, 14 October 2025Wealthy people are donating more money than previously but some are put off by difficulties accessing information about the impact of specific charities,...
'Mid-value' legacy donors are the most generous, research finds
Tuesday, 14 October 2025People with "middle-sized" estates leave a larger share of their wealth to charities in their wills than richer legacy donors, according to new research....
Chris Coopman: Telling stories when budgeting and forecasting
Tuesday, 14 October 2025On Charity Finance Week, RABI's financial controller discusses the ways that charity finance professionals can adapt their storytelling to different audiences......
House of Lords debate: VAT on fees
Tuesday, 14 October 2025During a debate on the government's VAT on fees policy in the House of Lords yesterday, Lord Lexden, president of the Independent Schools Association (ISA),...
IDPE member schools featured in Country & Townhouse Independent School News October issue
Tuesday, 14 October 2025Environmental education, female empowerment and fantastic fundraising in this week's roundup of the latest independent school news from Country & Townhouse....
UK has 'worst tax position' for charitable giving, ex-Conservative Party leader claims
Thursday, 9 October 2025The UK has the 'worst tax position for charitable giving that I can think of', a former leader of the Conservative Party has said, urging the country to...
Final countdown to the new Code of Fundraising Practice
Thursday, 9 October 2025We're in the final countdown to the new Code of Fundraising Practice coming into effect on 1 November 2025. With just one month to go, now is the time...
ISC warned impact of VAT on fees 'would not be felt evenly across the UK'
Thursday, 9 October 2025A spokesperson for the ISC said parents and schools are navigating the changing landscape following the introduction of VAT on fees, as figures show that...
HMC Autumn Conference - launching the Fundraising futures report
Thursday, 2 October 2025IDPE CEO, Lou Bennett, was invited to speak at HMC Autumn Conference 'A Future Worth Teaching: sharing our excellence' and share insights from the new...
Wealthy families plot exodus as Labour's school fees tax sparks anger
Thursday, 2 October 2025A quarter of Britain's richest families are weighing up leaving the country as fears mount over Labour's tax raid on private schools and speculation of...
Why do companies give? Research uncovers what motivates corporate giving
Thursday, 2 October 2025Fireside Fundraising has published its latest research, Why Companies Give: In Their Own Words, based on interviews with people in a range of roles inside...
UK's most powerful and influential people are still 5 times more likely to have attended private schools
Wednesday, 24 September 2025The report finds that across a range of sectors, the UK's most powerful and influential people are still 5 times more likely to have attended private schools...
Most British businesses do nothing to support charities
Wednesday, 24 September 2025Research by Charities Aid Foundation reveals that 75% of British businesses do not support charities, whether it is giving time (volunteering and skills),...
How to end the fundraising year on a high
Wednesday, 24 September 2025The latter months of the year can be some of the most fruitful for charities when it comes to fundraising. According to fundraising software providers...
Trustees split on paying charity board members, research finds
Wednesday, 17 September 2025Charity chairs and trustees are divided on whether making it easier to pay people doing their role would benefit the sector, according to new research....
AI expected to play an important role in future corporate partnerships, report finds
Tuesday, 16 September 2025The majority of charities and businesses expect AI to play an important role in corporate partnerships over the next three years, a new report has found....
Regulator tweaks new Code of Fundraising Practice to improve clarity
Tuesday, 16 September 2025The Fundraising Regulator has made changes to its updated code of practice to improve its clarity following feedback from the charity sector. This week,...
Corporate-NGO tie-ups lean into AI as language becomes 'quieter' around ESG
Tuesday, 16 September 2025Non-profits and corporates look to AI to solve "deeper problems", as brands become "quieter in their language" around environmental, social and governance...
Regulators considering calls to adjust charity accounting tier levels in new SORP
Tuesday, 9 September 2025UK charity regulators are considering whether to amend proposed tiers for accounting requirements after some in the sector raised concerns about the suggested...
Remember A Charity Week 2025 focuses on the 'phenomenal impact' of legacies
Tuesday, 9 September 2025Remember A Charity Week runs this week from 8-14 September. It brings together charities, professional advisers, campaign partners and celebrities to grow...
Legacy giving more prevalent among millionaires with kids, research finds
Tuesday, 9 September 2025The study, commissioned by Remember A Charity and conducted by Savanta, surveyed 500 people who have more than £1m in investable assets. Half of...
IDPE schools amongst finalists for Independent Schools of the Year 2025 awards
Tuesday, 9 September 2025Congratulations to all IDPE member schools included in the Independent Schools of the Year 2025 awards finalists.
New charity tax minister welcomed after Starmer reshuffles
Tuesday, 9 September 2025A new minister with responsibility for charity taxation has been appointed as part of prime minister Keir Starmer's reshuffle.
Protect public trust gains when using 'soft opt-in' powers, regulator boss tells charities
Wednesday, 9 July 2025The chief executive of the Fundraising Regulator has said that charities must carefully consider how they use new powers to contact supporters in order...
UK's top 1% of earners donate £52 a month to charities, research finds
Wednesday, 9 July 2025The government has been urged to boost high-net-worth (HNW) giving as research published this week reveals that the UK's top earners currently make "relatively...
VAT on school fees -Where are we now? (An accounting perspective)
Monday, 7 July 2025Robert Warne reviews events in the months that have passed since VAT was introduced on independent school fees.
New charity trustee information requirements introduced in Scotland
Wednesday, 2 July 2025Scottish regulator OSCR has introduced requirements for all charities in the country to submit trustee details as part of their annual returns.