Independent schools

It's about choice.

Independent schools are an important part of the diverse education landscape that Bates Wells works across. As the leading law firm for charities, it is natural that we advise independent schools, many of which are charities themselves.

Today, much of our work for independent schools involves advising on the establishment of new schools or on the acquisition or sale of independent schools, often involving an international element, or increasingly in their collaborations with state-funded schools.  

How we help

We are experienced in advising on the acquisition and sale of charitable independent schools, with expertise in the structuring of how best to take on the land and other assets of the school. This often involves advising in relation to complex charity law and education law issues (such as obtaining necessary consents), undertaking legal due diligence, and advising on TUPE and pensions. We also regularly advise on the sale of schools.

We advise non-charitable independent schools on the process of converting into charities.

We advise on issues that are distinct to independent schools including parental contracts, charity law regulation (including serious incident reporting), fee collection and inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).

We also advise on all the issues that are common across the whole education sector such as pupil welfare and safeguarding, complaints and appeals, immigration, data protection, commercial contracts, and intellectual property.

Meet our team
You May Also Be Interested In

Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 16 June

Our weekly roundup of news and updates from across the sector. To help you navigate this week’s content, the links below will take you straight to content by topic. Charity Commission New grant-making guidance We have now looked at the Charity Commission’s new guidance for charities making grants to charities and other organisations in more …
Read more

Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 9 June

Our weekly round up of news and updates from across the sector. To help you navigate this week’s content, the links below will take you straight to content by topic. Charity Commission New Grant-Making Guidance The Charity Commission has published new guidance for charities making grants to charities and other organisations. This replaces and expands …
Read more

Briefing for Charities & Social Enterprises | 3 June

Our weekly roundup of news and updates from across the sector. To help you navigate this week’s content, the links below will take you straight to content by topic. Charity Commission The Charity Commission has published a blog and guidance promoting the role of charity trustee. Return to top. Sector general The government has published new research mapping …
Read more

Department for Education consultation on statutory guidance for ‘gender questioning’ children: call for responses

The Department for Education (DfE) has opened its annual consultation on updates to its “Keeping children safe in education” (KCSIE) statutory guidance, which will include a new section on ‘gender questioning’ children. Schools and colleges, teachers and leaders, parents and young people, charities and support groups, will have valuable experience and views, which may be …
Read more

EHRC announces regulatory action in respect of policies which allow access to single sex spaces and services based on gender self identification

On 27 August 2025, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (“EHRC”) announced that it has completed its review of evidence obtained from the Government’s 2024 call for input on organisations’ approaches to single sex spaces and services, and that it will be taking regulatory action where organisations’ policies on this issue misrepresent equality law. Specifically, …
Read more