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Schools maintained by the local authority

Existing schools

If you鈥檙e a maintained school that wishes to get, or change, a religious designation, you must first close your existing school. You must then approach your local authority with a proposal to open a new school with a religious designation.

If your local authority agrees with your proposal, you need to apply to get the Secretary of State鈥檚 approval before you open a new school with a religious designation.

Read guidance on how to close and open a school under the School Organisation (Establishment and Discontinuance of Schools) Regulations 2013.

New schools

If you鈥檙e a diocese that wishes to open a maintained school with a religious designation, you should approach your local authority and propose a new voluntary-aided (VA) school with a religious character. Your local authority will ask you to show evidence that there鈥檚 enough local demand for the school you鈥檙e proposing.

If your local authority agrees with your proposal, you need to apply to get the Secretary of State鈥檚 approval before you open a new school with a religious designation.

Prepare your application to get, or change, a religious designation

You need the Secretary of State for Education鈥檚 approval before you can get or change a religious designation.

To apply for approval, you must have:

• published a proposal to open a new school with a religious character (for example, on your own or your local authority鈥檚 website)
• approval from your diocesan authority, if the application is for a Church of England or Roman Catholic school
• a trust deed (for example, the terms relating to the ownership of the premises on behalf of the diocese or religious body) and instrument of government that are consistent with the proposal to open the new school - read guidance for schools on creating their instrument of government
• a proposed governing body for the new school

You鈥檒l also need to confirm at least one of the following:

• that at least one school governor will be a 鈥榝oundation governor鈥�, for example, a governor that your faith authority has appointed to represent the religion of your new school
• that the governing body will hold the school鈥檚 premises on trust (for example, on behalf of the diocese or religious body) so that if the school closes, money from the sale of the premises will go to the school鈥檚 diocese or religious body
• that the governing body will hold the school鈥檚 premises on trust to provide education according to the school鈥檚 religion

Submit the application to get or change a religious designation

Use our to apply.

You鈥檒l need to upload a copy of your trust deed or instrument of government when you submit the form.

If the application is for a Church of England or Roman Catholic school, you鈥檒l also need to upload a document that confirms the approval from your diocesan authority.

We鈥檒l review your application and contact you by phone or email if we need more information.

If your application is successful, we鈥檒l make a religious designation order and will inform you when this has happened.

If the application is unsuccessful, we鈥檒l contact you and let you know why.

Open a maintained school with a religious character designation

Like all other maintained schools, your school will have to:

• follow the national curriculum
• participate in national curriculum tests and assessments
• have regular Ofsted inspections
• follow the school admissions code

For information on teaching religious education (RE) and collective worship, see the guidance on religious education in English schools.

For guidance on staffing, see guidance on managing staff employment in schools.

Academies and free schools

Existing academies or free schools

If you鈥檙e an existing academy or free school that wishes to get or change a religious designation, you should follow the 鈥楳aking significant changes to an existing academy鈥� guide.

New academies and free schools

You can open a new academy or free school with a religious designation through the free school presumption process. This is the process where a local authority identifies the need to establish a new school in their area and seeks proposals.

If you wish to open a new free school with a religious designation outside of the presumption process, follow the guidance in the free school application guide.

Independent schools (also known as private schools that are not state-funded)

Changing an independent school鈥檚 religious character designation

If an independent school wishes to change its religious character it must:

• have the original religious character revoked
• provide reasons for the change
• apply for a new religious character designation

Independent schools must:

• email [email protected]
• add the subject heading 鈥楳aterial change: religious character designation鈥�

If an independent school wants to make a religious ethos material change, read Independent schools: making a material change.