This Order formally designates two specific independent schools in England, St Thomas of Canterbury CE Primary School and Edullect Academy Independent School, recognizing them as having a religious character aligned with the Church of England and Islam, respectively, effective from December 13th, 2025.
Furthermore, the Order legally revokes the previous designations of several other independent schools listed in various prior Orders dating back to 2003 and 2004, updating the official record of schools permitted to conduct their operations and employment decisions based on religious or denominational considerations.
Arguments For
Designates two specific independent schools, St Thomas of Canterbury CE Primary School and Edullect Academy Independent School, formally recognizing their provision of education according to specific religious tenets (Church of England and Islam, respectively).
Ensures legal clarity regarding the religious character status of these institutions, which permits them to consider faith in certain employment decisions under Section 124A of the 1998 Act.
Removes previous designations for several other independent schools that have either closed or are no longer operating under that religious character status, thereby updating the register efficiently.
Confirms that the required statutory procedures, namely those set out in the Religious Character of Schools (Designation Procedure) (Independent Schools) (England) Regulations 2003, have been followed.
Arguments Against
The Order's effect allows designated schools to take faith or denominational considerations into account when appointing or promoting teaching staff, which may raise concerns about employment fairness or discrimination in a secular context.
The revocation of designations for multiple older instruments results in a complex legislative history requiring cross-referencing to understand the status of previously designated schools.
The explanatory note explicitly states no full impact assessment was deemed necessary, which could imply a lack of rigorous review regarding the broader socio-economic or educational impact of these designations and revocations.
The Order extends to England and Wales, yet the primary governing legislation cited relates to England-specific frameworks, potentially creating jurisdictional ambiguity.
The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 69(3) of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998
as applied in relation to independent schools by section 124B
of that Act.
The Secretary of State has followed the procedure specified in the Religious Character of Schools (Designation Procedure) (Independent Schools) (England) Regulations 2003.
The responsible Secretary of State issues this legislative Order using powers granted under Section 69(3) of the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998.
These powers are specifically extended to cover independent schools via Section 124B of the same Act.
The Government confirms it has adhered to the required procedural rules for designating religious schools, as outlined in the 2003 Regulations concerning independent schools in England.
- Citation, commencement and extent
(1) This Order may be cited as the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No.2) Order 2025 and comes into force on 13th December 2025.
(2) This Order extends to England and Wales.
The official short title for this instrument is the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No.2) Order 2025.
It formally becomes effective on December 13th, 2025.
The regulations prescribed within this Order apply to both England and Wales.
- Designation of schools
(1) The following independent schools are designated as schools having a religious character—
(a) St Thomas of Canterbury CE Primary School, EX17 6QE;
(b) Edullect Academy Independent School, RM3 8SB.
(2) The religion or religious denomination in accordance with whose tenets education is provided, or the school is conducted, is—
(a) at the school designated in paragraph (1)(a), Church of England;
(b) at the school designated in paragraph (1)(b), Islam.
This article officially names two independent schools as having a religious character for the purposes of the legislation.
These schools are St Thomas of Canterbury CE Primary School and Edullect Academy Independent School, identified by their post codes.
The Order further specifies the associated religion for each school.
St Thomas of Canterbury CE Primary School's education must align with the Church of England, while Edullect Academy Independent School's alignment is with Islam.
- Revocations
The following provisions are revoked —
(a) in the Schedule to the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) Order 2003, the entries relating to —
(i) Queen Margaret’s School, YO19 6EU;
(ii) St Joseph’s Convent School, BB12 6TG;
(b) in the Schedule to the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No.2) Order 2003, the entries relating to —
(i) Barlborough Hall School, S43 4TJ;
(ii) Bishop Challoner School, BR2 0BS
(iii) Mount St Mary’s College, S21 3YL;
(iv) St John’s Beaumont, SL4 2JN;
(c) in the Schedule to the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No.3) Order 2003, the entry relating to Rydes Hill Preparatory School, GU2 8BP;
(d) in the Schedule to the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No.2) Order 2004, the entry relating to Fulneck School, LS28 8DS;
(e) in the Schedule to the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No.4) Order 2004, the entry relating to Ilford Ursuline Preparatory School, IG1 4QR;
(f) in the Schedule to the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No.6) Order 2004, the entry relating to Our Lady's Convent Senior School, OX14 3PS.
This part cancels previous designations listed in various earlier Orders from 2003 and 2004.
Specifically, it revokes the entries for Queen Margaret’s School and St Joseph’s Convent School from the 2003 Order.
It also removes designations for four schools (Barlborough Hall School, Bishop Challoner School, Mount St Mary’s College, and St John’s Beaumont) from a separate 2003 Order.
Further revocations target Rydes Hill Preparatory School (2003 Order), Fulneck School (2004 Order), Ilford Ursuline Preparatory School (2004 Order), and Our Lady's Convent Senior School (2004 Order).
Signed on behalf of the Secretary of State
Susan Whitehouse
Deputy Director
12th December 2025
Department for Education
The document is formally signed on December 12th, 2025, by Susan Whitehouse, who holds the position of Deputy Director within the Department for Education, on behalf of the Secretary of State.
Explanatory Note (This note is not part of the Order)
This Order designates the independent schools listed in article 2(1) as having the religious character specified in article 2(2).
This Order revokes the instruments listed in article 3 to the extent set out in that article. The revocations relate to independent schools that have either closed or that are no longer to be designated as a school having a religious character.
Under section 124A of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, independent schools which are designated are permitted to take account of certain religious or denominational considerations when making specified employment decisions relating to teaching staff (such as decisions on appointment or promotion).
Designation by this Order is not of itself a means of acquiring a religious character or of changing religious character. Designation is the recognition of certain existing attributes of the school or its governing body as described in the Religious Character of Schools (Designation Procedure) (Independent Schools) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2314).
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.
The note clarifies that the Order serves to confer the status of having a religious character upon the two schools named in Article 2, linking them to the specific faith detailed there.
It confirms that Article 3 removes the designation status from specific schools mentioned in older legislation because they have either shut down or are no longer operating under that status.
A key consequence of national designation under Section 124A of the 1998 Act is that the schools can legally factor religious or denominational criteria into teacher appointments and promotions.
The note stresses that being designated merely recognizes an existing attribute of the school, rather than being the mechanism by which religious status is acquired or changed.
Finally, the Government states that a full impact assessment was omitted as no significant effects on the private, voluntary, or public sectors are anticipated.