http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/2265The Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No. 2) Order 2012Faith schoolsIndependent schoolsChurch Of EnglandSchool performance and standardsState schoolsenEDUCATION, ENGLANDStatute Law Database2026-06-30Expert Participation2015-08-28 This Order designates the independent schools listed in the Schedule as having a religious character. 2012 No. 2265 Education, England The Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (<Abbreviation Expansion="Number">No.</Abbreviation> 2) Order 2012 Made 31st August 2012

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, as applied in relation to independent schools by section 124B(1) 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. Citation 1 This Order may be cited as the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) (No. 2) Order 2012. Interpretation 2 In this Order“the relevant religion or religious denomination” means the religion or religious denomination in accordance with whose tenets education is provided at the school or the school is conducted. Designation of schools 3 1 The schools listed in column (1) of the Schedule are designated as schools having a religious character. 2 The relevant religion or religious denomination in relation to a school listed in column (1) of the Schedule is specified in relation to that school in column (2). P.S.A. Jones Deputy Director Department for Education 31st August 2012 SCHEDULESchools having a religious characterArticle 3
(1)Name and postcode of school(2)Relevant religion or religious denomination
Barnet
Rimon Jewish Primary School, NW11 8AEJewish
Birmingham
Nishkam Primary School, B21 9SNSikh
Nishkam High School, B19 2LFSikh
Blackburn with Darwen
Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School, BB1 5PEIslam
Central Bedfordshire
St Augustine’s Academy, LU5 4ASChurch of England
Cornwall
. . .. . .
Derby
Al-Madinah School, DE1 1NUIslam
Enfield
Enfield Heights Academy, EN3 5BYChristian
Essex
Becket Keys Church of England Free School, CM15 9DAChurch of England
Harrow
Avanti House School, HA3 5PQHindu
Shropshire
Barrow 1618 Church of England Free School, TF12 5BWChurch of England
Waltham Forest
Emmanuel Community School, E17 6SAChristian
Wigan
Atherton Community School, M46 9JPChristian
 EXPLANATORY NOTE (This note is not part of the Order)

This Order designates the independent schools listed in the Schedule as having a religious character.

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 in making specified employment decisions which relate 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).

 1998 c. 31. Section 124B was inserted by the Independent Schools (Employment of Teachers in Schools with a Religious Character) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/2037) and has been amended by the Alternative Provision Academies (Consequential Amendments to Acts) (England) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/976). S.I. 2003/2314, as amended by S.I. 2004/2262. Art. 1 in force at made dateArt. 2 in force at made dateArt. 3 in force at made dateSch. in force at made dateWords in Sch. revoked (28.8.2015) by The Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1636), Sch. 2