Religious character: two designations; ten revoked

If you’re a teacher, parent or student keeping an eye on school policy, here’s the change to know about this week. On 12 December 2025 the Department for Education made a statutory instrument that took effect on 13 December. It updates which independent schools in England are officially recognised as having a ‘religious character’. The order is published on legislation.gov.uk and is signed by Susan Whitehouse, Deputy Director, on behalf of the Secretary of State.

Two schools are newly recognised. St Thomas of Canterbury CE Primary School (EX17 6QE) is designated as Church of England. Edullect Academy Independent School (RM3 8SB) is designated as Islam. This is formal recognition of how each school already describes its ethos and governance, not a rebrand or a fresh start.

Older entries have been removed. The order revokes previous designations for Queen Margaret’s School (YO19 6EU); St Joseph’s Convent School (BB12 6TG); Barlborough Hall School (S43 4TJ); Bishop Challoner School (BR2 0BS); Mount St Mary’s College (S21 3YL); St John’s Beaumont (SL4 2JN); Rydes Hill Preparatory School (GU2 8BP); Fulneck School (LS28 8DS); Ilford Ursuline Preparatory School (IG1 4QR); and Our Lady’s Convent Senior School (OX14 3PS). The government’s note explains revocations apply where a school has closed or is no longer to be designated.

So what does ‘religious character’ mean in law for independent schools? In plain terms, it’s a legal label that allows limited, specific actions. Under section 124A of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, a designated independent school may take account of religion or denomination in certain decisions about teaching staff, including appointments and promotions. It does not open the door to blanket preferences across every role, and it sits alongside wider equality law.

Equally important is what this change does not do. Designation itself does not create a faith ethos; it confirms one already present under the school’s trust deed or governing documents. It does not automatically change admissions or the everyday curriculum. For independent schools, admissions and curriculum are set through other rules and contracts; this order is about recognition and a narrow staffing permission.

The Department for Education stresses that designation is recognition, not a way to acquire or change a school’s religious character overnight. The procedure is set out in the Religious Character of Schools (Designation Procedure) (Independent Schools) (England) Regulations 2003, and the power to make these lists comes from section 69(3) of the 1998 Act, applied to independent schools by section 124B.

If your child attends one of the newly designated schools, you should not expect day‑to‑day classroom life to shift because of this order. You might, however, notice clearer wording on the school’s website or in job adverts for teachers, reflecting the lawful scope to consider faith in specific teaching posts. If your child’s school is on the revoked list and remains open, the school can still describe a religious ethos, but the specific staffing exception that comes with designation no longer applies.

For teachers and school leaders, this is a paperwork moment as much as a policy one. Update staffing policies and recruitment templates to ensure any reference to faith requirements is lawful and limited to roles where it is permitted. Check your trust deed or instrument of government so that public statements match what the law recognises. If a designation has been revoked, review job descriptions and adverts to remove references that relied on the old status.

For students studying law or politics, this is a live example of how secondary legislation works. Parliament set the framework in the School Standards and Framework Act 1998; the Department for Education then keeps the official list up to date by order. The instrument extends to England and Wales but concerns independent schools in England. The explanatory note also sets out the purpose of designation and why entries are sometimes removed.

If you want to go further, read the order itself on legislation.gov.uk and compare the wording with previous years. You’ll see that most changes are tidy‑ups: adding schools that have completed the process, and removing those that have closed or no longer need the legal label. For families and staff, the practical takeaway is simple: policy documents may be refreshed, but classrooms carry on as usual unless your school explains otherwise.