The Department for Education has made the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No. 2) Order 2025 (S.I. 2025/1311). Signed on behalf of the Secretary of State by Deputy Director Susan Whitehouse on 12 December 2025, the instrument entered into force on 13 December 2025 and extends to England and Wales.
Under article 2, two independent schools are designated as having a religious character: St Thomas of Canterbury CE Primary School (EX17 6QE), designated Church of England; and Edullect Academy Independent School (RM3 8SB), designated Islam. The designations apply to independent schools in England.
Designation is a recognition exercise rather than a means of acquiring or changing religious character. It confirms that a school’s arrangements accord with the relevant tenets, following the Religious Character of Schools (Designation Procedure) (Independent Schools) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2314). The Department notes no full impact assessment has been produced because no significant sector impact is foreseen.
Article 3 revokes earlier entries for independent schools listed in past 2003 and 2004 designation orders. The entries removed are 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 Explanatory Note states these schools have either closed or are no longer to be designated.
The practical legal effect sits with section 124A of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998. For designated independent schools, specified employment decisions about teaching staff, including appointment and promotion, may take account of religious or denominational considerations. This permission does not of itself extend to non‑teaching posts.
For proprietors and HR leads at St Thomas of Canterbury CE Primary School and Edullect Academy Independent School, actions are administrative: reflect any justified denominational requirements for defined teaching roles in job descriptions and adverts; update governance documents and staff handbooks to reference the designation; and keep clear records explaining when and how a faith criterion is applied for particular posts.
Where designation has been revoked, staffing policies should be reviewed. Unless another statutory exemption applies, faith‑based criteria for teaching appointments should no longer be used, and recruitment materials should be updated to remove denominational requirements for teaching roles.
The Order reiterates that designation is not a curriculum or admissions change for the independent sector. It recognises existing attributes of a school or its governing body under the 2003 procedure regulations, and it operates alongside wider equality duties. The policy effect is focused on staffing decisions for defined teaching posts.
With commencement on 13 December 2025, schools recruiting for the spring term should reflect these changes immediately. The Department’s note anticipates no significant effects on private, voluntary or public sectors beyond routine policy updates.