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 issueCIOF vows to change perceptions of fundraising in 10-year strategy
Monday, 9 June 2025The Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIOF) has vowed to change public perceptions of the profession as part of a new 10-year strategy.
ISC CEO: Fall in independent sector pupil numbers undermines VAT policy revenue claims
Friday, 6 June 2025Julie Robinson, CEO of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), has said the latest DfE census findings, which show independent school pupil numbers have...
Fundraising Regulator to change how it collects complaints data
Friday, 6 June 2025The Fundraising Regulator has revealed plans to start collecting data from charities of all sizes for its annual complaints report (ACR).
Private school pupil numbers drop by 11,000
Thursday, 5 June 2025There were 11,000 fewer pupils at private schools in England this January compared to the same time last year, according to the latest school census data....
Government issues guidance on VAT for independent schools
Wednesday, 4 June 2025HMRC has issued updated guidance that explains how private schools can reclaim VAT incurred on services received before they registered for VAT.
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FairTalk: Reclaiming Ethical Fundraising in a Time of Nonprofit Cuts
Tuesday, 3 June 2025FairTalk returns on 10 June with a conversation that feels more urgent than ever. As nonprofits and development organisations navigate shrinking budgets,...
CIOF: Developing a new 10-year strategy
Monday, 2 June 2025The Chartered Institute of Fundraising will be unveiling their new ten-year strategy in June 2025 – one which has been developed with fundraisers...
Development: 'A spirit of quiet, determined optimism'
Thursday, 29 May 2025School fundraisers are asking for help and finding that their communities are responding, writes Emma Garrett
'VAT on fees has made us rethink everything'
Wednesday, 28 May 2025Adapting a school to financial realities has been like 'trying to redesign and repair an aeroplane mid-flight' writes Peter Hogan
UK boarding schools hit by drop in number of international pupils
Thursday, 22 May 2025Tighter visa restrictions have negative impact on numbers of children choosing to study in Britain
The UK must not walk away from its commitment to education
Wednesday, 21 May 2025Deprioritising support for global education risks trashing the UK's reputation and will have devastating consequences for millions of the world's poorest...
Private school VAT raids: What's the actual impact?
Tuesday, 20 May 2025Settings reduce fees and boost bursaries as tax changes take effect, but more pupils leave than government predicted.
Charitable giving by UK's wealthiest up £500m, Sunday Times Giving List shows
Friday, 16 May 2025The wealthiest people in the UK gave nearly £500m more to charity over the past year, according to the Sunday Times Giving List.
Private schools say fees have gone up by 22% in last year
Thursday, 15 May 2025Private school fees were 22.6% higher on average in January compared with a year ago, according to the body that represents most independent schools in...
UK legacy income grows to £4.5bn as probate backlog clears, report shows
Wednesday, 14 May 2025Legacy income for charities in the UK increased to £4.5bn last year despite "a challenging external environment", according to a new report. Today,...
Smee & Ford: Legacy Giving Report 2025
Wednesday, 14 May 2025The Legacy Giving Report 2025 is available for download!
By uniting the unique strengths of Smee & Ford's extensive wills and probate...
By uniting the unique strengths of Smee & Ford's extensive wills and probate...
Affluent London areas 'least generous' in UK, CAF research finds
Monday, 12 May 2025The 10 least generous areas in the UK are all districts in London, according to new research, while residents in affluent suburbs outside the capital give...
Large charities should shift power to communities to remain relevant, CEO says
Friday, 9 May 2025Large charities have been encouraged to focus on shifting power towards local communities in order to remain relevant. Lloyds Bank Foundation chief executive...
VAT on fees: 'The human cost was never thought about'
Tuesday, 6 May 2025The government never considered the human cost of the VAT on fees policy, writes Gareth Jones.
Charitable legacies most likely from younger will-makers and volunteers
Friday, 2 May 2025Remember A Charity's annual consumer tracking study reports that almost 1 in 3 supporters aged over 40 with a Will have already included a charity, while...
Lack of diversity and legal expertise on charity boards, regulator's research finds
Wednesday, 30 April 2025Charity trustee boards fail to represent the diversity of the wider population while some lack legal skills, according to a new report from the Charity...
New VAT rules could hike school fees by £75,000 per family
Wednesday, 30 April 2025The Government's controversial decision to introduce VAT on private schools will introduce a price hike in excess of £75,000 for families, according...
New Code (effective 1 November 2025)
Wednesday, 30 April 2025From 1 November 2025, fundraising regulation in the UK is evolving to reflect modern fundraising practices. Fundraising organisations should review the...
Research finds shift from older to younger people volunteering over past decade
Wednesday, 23 April 2025More younger people are volunteering now than a decade ago, while the rate for the older generation has decreased in that time, according to a new report....
Shape History on fundraising insights in CAF's UK Giving Report 2025
Tuesday, 22 April 2025Impact-first agency Shape History has analysed Charities Aid Foundation's annual UK Giving Report to draw out fundraising opportunities.
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Wealthiest English private schools spend below 6% on means-tested bursaries, research finds
Tuesday, 15 April 2025Data shows 200 independent schools devote fraction of fee income to support disadvantaged pupils based on family income.
Scottish boarding school to accept fees in Bitcoin - could donations be next?
Saturday, 12 April 2025A Scottish boarding school has announced it will accept payments of school fees in the cryptocurrency Bitcoin.
Lomond School in Helensburgh,...
Lomond School in Helensburgh,...
30% of charities experienced cybersecurity breaches or attacks last year, stats show
Friday, 11 April 2025Three in 10 charities experienced cybersecurity breaches or attacks last year, according to government figures published this week. The annual cybersecurity...
Education Policy Institute (EPI), funded by HMC (The Head's Conference), examines the workings, challenges and perceived benefits of partnerships between independent and state schools
Tuesday, 8 April 2025A new report by the Education Policy Institute (EPI), funded by HMC (The Head's Conference), examines the workings, challenges and perceived benefits of...
Independent-state school partnerships deep dive – A detailed look at the Bristol Education Partnership (BEP) and the York ISSP
Tuesday, 8 April 2025A new report by the Education Policy Institute (EPI), funded by HMC (The Head's Conference), examines the workings, challenges and perceived benefits of...
News 'Discriminatory' VAT on school fees is 'unprecedented' High Court hears in legal challenge
Friday, 4 April 2025A High Court challenge to the government's imposition of VAT on private school fees this week focused on whether children have the legal right to attend...
ISC CEO ahead of High Court challenge: VAT on fees policy 'flawed' and 'disruptive'
Tuesday, 1 April 2025Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), has criticised the government's "flawed" VAT on fees policy, stating that it...
Charitable giving reached £15.4bn last year despite drop in donors, CAF reports
Monday, 31 March 2025Donations to charities from the British public amounted to an estimated £15.4bn last year, but fewer people are giving, according to the Charities...
Record numbers of pupils apply to top state sixth forms for A-levels after VAT was introduced on private school fees, heads say
Saturday, 29 March 2025A record number of children are applying to join top state sixth forms after Labour introduced VAT on private schools, headteachers say.
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CIOF: Our response to the Fundraising Regulator's Complaints Report (2022/2023)
Friday, 28 March 2025Charlotte Sherman, Policy Manager at CIOF shares the top five takeaways from the Fundraising Regulator's latest Complaints Report and the steps we are...
Single-sex schools 'taking various measures' amid VAT on fees
Thursday, 27 March 2025A comprehensive article in The Telegraph explores the impact of Labour's VAT on fees policy on single-sex schools. Quoted is Alex Hutchinson, headteacher...
Union anger as spring statement snubs schools
Wednesday, 26 March 2025Reeves mentioned crumbling school roofs, but they won't get more capital cash next year
Nominations are now open for the Independent Schools of the Year 2025 awards
Tuesday, 25 March 2025The Independent Schools of the Year 2025 awards, brought to you by the team at Independent School Parent magazine, is recognised as the leading awards...
HMC Chair 2026-27 Announcement
Monday, 24 March 2025We are delighted to announce that Dr Anne Cotton, Head of King's College School, Wimbledon has been elected to serve as HMC Chair for the 2026-27 academic...
ISC CEO remains 'extremely concerned' about impact of government decisions on independent schools
Thursday, 20 March 2025Julie Robinson, chief executive of the ISC, has welcomed the news that the House of Lords has voted against plans to end business rates relief for independent...
School budgets much worse than we thought, say leaders
Friday, 14 March 2025Need to cover the rest of this year's pay rise means £1.3m funding announced at autumn budget won't cover cost rises
Edinburgh independent school launches fund to help parents pay VAT on fees
Tuesday, 11 March 2025George Watson's College in Edinburgh is launching a fundraising appeal to help parents after an "unprecedented" drop in pupil numbers following the Labour...
Around 100 schools could be forced to close under Labour's plans to impose VAT on private schools
Saturday, 8 March 2025About 100 private schools will be forced to close because of Labour's hated tax raid on fees, a Minister has admitted.
It is the first...
It is the first...
Paul Winyard: Charities should approach the use of 'soft opt-in' with caution
Thursday, 6 March 2025The UK has a strong tradition of charitable giving driven by public goodwill towards charities. In 2023 alone, the UK public donated an estimated £13.9bn,...
Grandparents dip into life savings to plug private school fee gap
Wednesday, 5 March 2025Grandparents across Britain are increasingly stepping in to cover soaring private school fees, but financial experts warn that older relatives may be undermining...
Language change needed to boost UK philanthropy, says minister
Tuesday, 4 March 2025A change in how charitable giving is described is needed to boost philanthropy in the UK, a government minister has said. Culture minister Chris Bryant...
How many UK independent school closures will happen in 2025?
Friday, 28 February 2025Up to date as of February 28, 2025
A total of 10 UK independent schools have announced plans for closure or possible closure since January...
A total of 10 UK independent schools have announced plans for closure or possible closure since January...
CIoF seeks power to award chartered status to fundraisers
Tuesday, 25 February 2025The Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIoF) is pressing ahead with its plans to be able to award chartered status to individual fundraisers. CIoF plans...
New scheme aims to ease regulator's decision-making processes
Tuesday, 25 February 2025The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland has said its decision-making processes will improve as a new scheme is introduced. On Friday, the Department...
ONS report shows 13% rise in independent school fees since January as UK inflation jumps
Wednesday, 19 February 2025UK inflation jumped sharply in the year to January, driven by rising food prices, air fares and an increase in private school fees.
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'Relief' for charities as probate waiting times halved in six months
Wednesday, 19 February 2025The government has announced that probate application processing times have halved, offering a boost to charities receiving legacy income. Figures published...