Charity status crackdown
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Independent schools were told that the Charity Commission could "go nuclear" if they failed to earn their charitable status.
All schools face a "public good" test from next year as a result of new legislation designed to ensure they fulfil their charitable obligations. Rose Chapman, an executive with the Charity Commission, warned that it could remove their trustees or even freeze their bank accounts if any school failed to pass the test.
In an interview with the Financial Times, she made it clear that the commission did not want to go down that route – but that the powers were available to it.
Bernard Trafford, the chairman of Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, doubted whether many schools would fail.
"The vast and overwhelming majority of independent schools are already meeting any public benefit test that will be set," he said. "It is going to be very unlikely that [the ultimate threat] would happen."
The commission is consulting on the criteria for charitable obligations.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments