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.

News topics:

Issue: legacy

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Charity Commission publishes guidance for online meetings
Monday, 22 July 2024
The Charity Commission has called on charities that hold online meetings to review their governing document to ensure it is up to date. Read more......
Military families could be spared from private school tax raid
Monday, 22 July 2024
Armed Forces could be exempted from paying extra fees, leaked email suggests. Read more...
Bottom Line podcast: Royal Grammar School Newcastle, Sevenoaks and GDST on private school business models and the impact of VAT
Monday, 22 July 2024
Private schools in the UK are mostly registered as charities – but they are also businesses – businesses in the sense that they sell a service...
Nine reasons taxing private school fees will not be straightforward for Labour
Thursday, 11 July 2024
Keir Starmer will not give in to protests against his flagship education policy - but now his party must deliver it. Read more... ...
Chartered Institute of Fundraising names next chair
Thursday, 11 July 2024
Harpreet Kondel's appointment is subject to approval at the membership body's annual general meeting in September. Read more......
Bridget Phillipson is confirmed as the new Secretary of State for Education
Thursday, 11 July 2024


Bridget Phillipson is confirmed as the new Secretary of State for Education – Sector Reaction. Read more...
Last chance to have your say – IDPE benchmarking review survey closes Friday 12 July
Thursday, 11 July 2024
IDPE is committed to advancing and championing schools’ development. Benchmarking is central to this effort. IDPE’s regular benchmarking survey/report...
Labour's private school tax raid 'likely illegal'
Wednesday, 3 July 2024
Keir Starmer’s flagship policy could breach human rights law, top lawyers warn. Read more.....
Katriona Carmichael becomes Scottish Charity Regulator CEO
Wednesday, 3 July 2024
Katriona Carmichael officially started her role as Chief Executive at OSCR on Monday 1 July, taking over from Maureen Mallon who has retired, and following...
Surge in use of AI but few charities ready to adopt it safely & effectively
Thursday, 27 June 2024
AI has seen in surge in use among charities and individuals working in charities, but most organisations are currently unprepared to use it safely and...
Legacy Futures: annual bequests reach record high
Thursday, 27 June 2024
Legacy income received by Legacy Futures consortium members in the year to March 2024 reached £1.81bn, it has reported: 1% up on the previous financial...
VAT on fees: 'These proposals demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of who we are and what we do'
Thursday, 27 June 2024
Alison King, librarian and PSE lead at Kings Monkton School, explains how her school’s offering would be impacted by the pledge to impose VAT on...
One-third of Gen Z supporters say they plan to increase their giving this year | Blackbaud Institute
Tuesday, 11 June 2024
One-third of Gen Z supporters say they plan to increase their giving this year. Are you ready to welcome them to the table? Read more......
Fundraising Regulator shares update on code review
Tuesday, 11 June 2024
Shaping the future: an update on our code review. Read more......
ISF releases new education spending report, examining proposals to remove tax exemptions from private schools
Tuesday, 11 June 2024
This report compares private school fees and state school spending. It also examines Labour’s proposals to remove tax exemptions from private schools....
Sutton Trust poll shows public support for investment to improve social mobility
Wednesday, 5 June 2024
British public backs investment to improve social mobility. Read more......
Vary gift aid by region to give deprived areas greater tax break, think tank proposes
Wednesday, 5 June 2024
The next government should vary gift aid by region so donations can help boost deprived areas, a think tank has argued. Read more......
Big Give Christmas Challenge 2024 opens for applications
Wednesday, 29 May 2024
Big Give has opened applications for the 2024 Christmas Challenge which last year raised £33 million for 1,077 charities. Read more......
Analysis: VAT on private schools could end up costing taxpayers
Wednesday, 29 May 2024
Revenue raised from imposing VAT on private school fees could almost entirely be lost as a result of the increased cost to the Treasury due to rising demand...
Labour would impose VAT on private school fees 'straight away'
Wednesday, 29 May 2024
Labour to impose Immediate Tax on Private School Fees, Says Starmer. Read more......
Largest fall in Independent school entries since 2011
Thursday, 16 May 2024
Figures from the Independent Schools Council (ISC) have revealed that enrolments at independent schools this academic year have fallen by 2.7 per cent,...
IDPE annual conference welcomes top speakers
Thursday, 16 May 2024
Ahead of the IDPE 2024 Annual Conference, the Independent Schools Management Plus magazine highlights calibre of speakers and opportunities for delegates....
Wolfson Foundation funding round opens for state schools capital projects
Thursday, 9 May 2024
Funding for secondary schools & sixth form colleges. Read more......
Physics education grants - The Ogden Trust
Thursday, 9 May 2024
There is one round of funding each term for grants to support projects that enhance physics opportunities and aspirations. Read more......
Labour to impose sales tax on UK boarding fees as well as private education
Thursday, 9 May 2024
Charge could hit private schools' plans to recruit more pupils from abroad to mitigate impact of VAT charge. Read more......
Showcase community impact - feedback invited from people living near a large independent school
Wednesday, 1 May 2024
The Guardian is inviting feedback people living near independent to share their experiences, including how they have benefited from use of schools’...
Donations by digital wallet and card account for 40% of regular gifts
Wednesday, 1 May 2024
Digital wallets now account for nearly half of all single donations and regular gifts, with a significant year on year rise, according to the findings...
Charities' legacy income increases to record £3.9bn
Wednesday, 1 May 2024
Charities’ legacy income in England and Wales increased to a record high of £3.9bn last year, according to new research. Read more......
Blackbaud releases newly updated 'How to choose a CRM' guide
Wednesday, 1 May 2024
How to Choose a Fundraising CRM Solution - Read more......
Gradual rise in donors leaving charitable gifts in wills, report says
Wednesday, 17 April 2024
There has been an incremental rise in charitable donors writing wills and pledging gifts to charities, according to a new report. Read more......
Schools face £1bn funding hit over falling rolls, report suggests
Wednesday, 17 April 2024
Think tank warns of 'imminent challenges to financial health of schools' amid falling rolls crisis. Read more......
Fundraising levy to increase following review, Regulator announces
Wednesday, 17 April 2024
The Fundraising Regulator has today (17 April) announced it is to increase the fundraising levy and registration fee following its review. Read more......
Have your say: MTM launches survey to understand the confidence of marketing and development staff
Wednesday, 17 April 2024
This annual benchmarking survey takes us into the very heart of schools: their people and asks school leaders to share their confidence in their job roles...
Blackbaud launches Status of UK Fundraising Report survey
Wednesday, 10 April 2024
Now in its seventh year, the report provides a comprehensive view of the UK fundraising sector, giving insightful benchmarks, year-on-year trends, and...
David Morton, Head, King's School Gloucester, discusses promise to parents re VAT increase (BBC Radio Gloucestershire)
Wednesday, 10 April 2024
David Morton Interview with BBC Radio Gloucestershire 9 April 2024
Regulator tells charities to consider having an internal artificial intelligence policy
Wednesday, 3 April 2024
Charities may need to consider having an internal artificial intelligence (AI) policy, the Charity Commission has suggested in a newly published blog....
Poll: Almost all private schools plan fee rise under VAT plan
Wednesday, 3 April 2024
Almost three quarters of schools fear they will have to close under Labour's planned school fees VAT levy, The Telegraph reports
Spotlight on AI: common concerns examined
Monday, 25 March 2024
AI offers powerful opportunities for charities and their fundraisers, from the automation of time-consuming admin tasks to the creation of draft copy that...
Donors more confident supporting charities displaying Fundraising Regulator's badge
Monday, 25 March 2024
The majority of donors would be more confident supporting a charity displaying the Fundraising Regulator’s badge, research suggests.
Russell Speirs and Friends: Simon Lerwill, Marlborough College, UK
Monday, 25 March 2024
Philanthropy is the key to a thriving school, Marlborough College development director Simon Lerwill tells Russell Speirs
Donations to charities rose to £13.9bn last year despite fewer donors, CAF reports
Monday, 25 March 2024
Charities in the UK received an estimated £13.9bn-worth of donations last year from a smaller pool of donors, according to new figures.
Woodgate calls for clarity from Labour
Thursday, 14 March 2024
Woodgate is urging the Labour Party to provide clearer guidance on their stance regarding private schools. Find out more here...
Latest changes from Charities Act 2022 come into force
Wednesday, 13 March 2024
The UK government has announced that the latest changes from the Charities Act 2022 have come into effect. These changes mark a significant step forward...
'We must not be deterred by the public debate' – Laura Firth shares reflections on the HMC and IDPE School Bursaries and Partnerships Conference (School Management Plus)
Wednesday, 6 March 2024
Independent schools must 'continue to have faith' in their role in improving education through bursaries and partnerships, writes Laura Firth....
'Your starting point is to accept donations,' Commission tells charities in new guidance
Wednesday, 6 March 2024
The Charity Commission has told trustees that their “starting point” is to accept donations offered to their organisations and not to let ...
Nearly half of voters do not think private schools should be exempt from VAT
Wednesday, 6 March 2024
In new research by social policy think tank Civitas, 48% of respondents disagree that private schools should be exempt from VAT; only 22% agreed. Read more...
People of colour more likely to have considered charity gifts in wills, survey finds
Wednesday, 28 February 2024
People of colour are more likely than individuals from white ethnic backgrounds to have considered donating to charities in their will, according to new...
Independent schools look to campuses overseas as Labour plans VAT on fees
Tuesday, 27 February 2024
The prospect of Labour adding VAT to school fees could mean more satellite schools are established in Asia, the Middle East and Europe to bring in more...
House of Commons debate held last week on independent school fees and VAT
Tuesday, 27 February 2024
Introducing a debate on independent school fees and VAT, Conservative MP for Northampton South, Andrew Lewer said: ‘Why is it that the sector often...
Artificial intelligence could threaten fundraising jobs, report warns
Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Telegraph publishes college and sixth form rankings
Tuesday, 13 February 2024
The Telegraph presents a ranking...
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