Statutory Instruments
2020 No. 919
Education, England
The Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) Order 2020
Made
28th August 2020
Coming into force in accordance with article 1
The Secretary of State for Education makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 69(3) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998(1), as applied in relation to independent schools by section 124B(1)(2) 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(3).
Citation and commencement
1. This Order may be cited as the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) Order 2020 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)Alder Grove Church of England Primary School, Shinfield, RG2 9RA;
(b)All Saints’ Academy, Cheltenham, Cheltenham, GL51 0WH;
(c)Beis Rochel D’Satmar School, London, N16 5DS;
(d)Eden Boys’ Leadership Academy, Bradford, BD3 8DF;
(e)Eden Girls’ Leadership Academy, Birmingham, B12 8NY;
(f)Hujjat Primary School, Harrow, HA3 6RR;
(g)Hyland House, London, N17 9AB;
(h)St Mary’s School, London, NW3 6PG;
(i)The Olive School, Small Heath, Birmingham, B10 0EG;
(j)Two Rivers Church of England Primary School, Keynsham, BS31 1PW;
(k)Winsham Primary School, Winsham, TA20 4HU; and
(l)Wren Academy Enfield, London N9 8DQ.
(2) The religion or religious denomination in accordance with whose tenets education is provided, or the school is conducted, is—
(a)at the schools designated in paragraph (1)(a),(b),(j),(k) and (l), Church of England;
(b)at the school designated in paragraph (1)(c), Jewish Orthodox;
(c)at the schools designated in paragraph (1)(d),(e),(f) and (i), Islam;
(d)at the school designated in paragraph (1)(g), Seventh-day Adventist; and
(e)at the school designated in paragraph (1)(h), Roman Catholic.
Revocations
3. The following provisions are revoked—
(a)in the Schedule to the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No.2) Order 2003(4), the entries relating to St Thomas Garnet’s School and Dharma School;
(b)in the Schedule to the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No.4) Order 2004(5), the entry relating to Wolverhampton Islamic Preparatory School;
(c)in the Schedule to the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No.5) Order 2004(6), the entry relating to Gracie Dieu Manor School;
(d)in the Schedule to the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) Order 2005(7), the entry relating to Roselyon Preparatory School;
(e)in the Schedule to the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No.3) Order 2009(8), the entry relating to All Saints Academy Cheltenham; and
(f)in the Schedule to the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) Order 2010(9), the entries relating to Jubilee House Christian School and House of Light.
Signed on behalf of the Secretary of State
Peter Swift
Deputy Director
Department for Education
28th August 2020
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) in relation to that school and revokes the instruments listed in article 3 to the extent set out in that article. All the revocations relate to schools that have closed except for the revocation in respect of All Saints Academy Cheltenham (the same school designated in article 2 albeit as All Saints’ Academy, Cheltenham – its correct legal name). Prior to the making of this Order the school had a dual designation of Church of England and Roman Catholic; this is revoked by article 3 and replaced by a new sole designation of Church of England under article 2.
Under section 124A of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, independent schools which are so 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.
Section 124B was inserted by S.I. 2003/2037 and has been amended by S.I. 2012/976.
S.I. 2003/2314, amended by S.I. 2004/2262.