Charity Commission raises alarm over illegal schools

Safeguarding concerns have been raised by the Charity Commission about out-of-school settings run by charities, with the Commission revealing intelligence of independent schools evading registration with the Department for Education by claiming to be part-time schools. The warning reflects longstanding concerns raised by Humanists UK about illegal religious schools and the loopholes used by their proprietors to avoid registration, leaving children without the basic regulatory protections designed to keep them safe.

In its new Charity Sector Risk Assessment 2026, the Commission identifies out-of-school settings as a particular area of concern. In it, the Charity Commission states that it has:

‘concerns regarding safeguarding provision within some out-of-school settings, many of which are run by charities. For example, the Commission has intelligence of independent schools run by charities which evade registration with the Department for Education (DfE) by claiming to be part-time schools.’

For over a decade, Humanists UK has campaigned for stronger measures to tackle illegal schools. Its work prompted the establishment of Ofsted’s Unregistered Schools team, and it has worked closely with Parliamentarians to bring forward legislation to close loopholes. The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act, which became law in April, contains long-awaited measures, which Humanists UK campaigned extensively for, designed to tackle illegal schools. These included stronger investigatory powers for Ofsted, reforms to the definition of an independent educational institution, and a new Children Not in School Register.

However, some concerns remain about the regulatory framework which would potentially allow certain settings to avoid regulations, after ministers confirmed that the standards have not yet been decided and will be subject to consultation. Humanists UK has since met ministers to make the case for a single set of standards applying to all settings.

The Commission’s warning also comes after Humanists UK research earlier this year found that the estimated number of Charedi Jewish boys missing from registered schools had more than tripled over the last 15 years, reaching 3,545. A subsequent ITV News investigation, supported by Humanists UK, identified more than 20 suspected illegal schools and found children being educated in unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

Commenting on the report, Humanists UK’s Policy and Campaigns Manager Lewis Young said:

‘This is a stark admission from the Charity Commission that some organisations are not simply falling through gaps in the law, but are actively evading school registration by claiming to provide only part-time education.

‘For years, Humanists UK has warned that this loophole leaves children trapped in illegal religious schools without the basic safeguarding and educational protections every child deserves. The new Act gives authorities much stronger tools to tackle these settings. Those powers must now be used to identify illegal schools, shut them down, and protect the children attending them.’