The Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) Order 2024

Made: 30th August 2024

Coming into force: 31st August 2024

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 69(3) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998[^f00001], as applied in relation to independent schools by section 124B(1)[^f00002] of that Act.

In making this Order, the Secretary of State has followed the procedure specified in the Religious Character of Schools (Designation Procedure) (Independent Schools) (England) Regulations 2003[^f00003].

Citation and commencement

1

This Order may be cited as the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) Order 2024 and comes into force on the day after the day on which it is made.

Designation of schools

2

• (1) The following independent schools are designated as schools having a religious character—

• (a) Bradford Christian School, Bradford, BD2 1BT;

• (b) Westwood Boys School, Oldham, OL1 1TE;

• (c) The Olive School, Manchester, M8 0DF;

• (d) The Open Academy, Norfolk, NR7 9DL;

• (e) Oakbridge Church of England Primary School, North Yorkshire, DL6 2GD.

• (2) The religion or religious denomination in accordance with whose tenets education is provided, or the school conducted, is—

• (a) at the school designated in paragraph (1)(a), Christian;

• (b) at the schools designated in paragraphs (1)(b) and (c), Islam;

• (c) at the schools designated in paragraphs (1)(d) and (e), Church of England.

Revocations

3

The following provisions in the Schedule to the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No.4) Order 2004[^f00004] are revoked—

• (a) the entry relating to Rye St Antony School;

• (b) the entry relating to Headington School Oxford.

Signed

Signed on behalf of the Secretary of State

Kate Dixon — Director — Department for Education — 30th August 2024

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

Explanatory Note

This Order designates the independent schools listed in article 2(1) as having the religious character specified in article 2(2). Article 3 of the Order revokes the instrument mentioned there to the extent set out in that article. The first revocation relates to a school that has closed and the second relates to a school that has amalgamated with another and no designation is sought arising of that amalgamation.

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, as amended by S.I. 2004/2262).

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1998 c. 31. Section 69(3) has been amended by paragraph 35(5) of Schedule 2 to the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021 (asc. 4).

[^f00002]: Section 124B was inserted by S.I. 2003/2037 and has been amended by S.I. 2012/976 and paragraph 37(3) of Schedule 2 to the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021.

[^f00003]: S.I. 2003/2314, amended by S.I. 2004/2262.

[^f00004]: S.I. 2004/1378, to which there are amendments not relevant to this Order.