Charities Act 2006 and independent schools - an uneasy relationship

Prior to the enforcement of the Charities Act 2006 it was generally, and legally, taken as a given that independent schools provided public benefit. This has meant that these institutions enjoyed a number of tax exemptions and reliefs due to their charitable status. With the introduction of the Act, however, independent schools will now have to prove that they are for the public benefit, with scrutiny and enforcement coming courtesy of the Charity Commission. Read more about the changes to the Charities Act.