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Update: April 2004
The DfES wrote to all independent schools in October 2003 asking them, if they wished to, to apply for designation as a school with religious character under the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (Independent Schools) (England) Order 2003. This parallels the process undergone with maintained schools following the 1998 School Standards and Framework Act and will have the same effect. The order protects designated schools from the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003, which would otherwise limit their freedom to appoint teachers with the same belief as the school.
Canon John Hall, Chief Education Officer for the Church of England and General Secretary of the National Society, wrote in October 2003 to all 618 independent schools claiming affiliation to the Church of England (as listed on the Independent Schools web site, www.isbi.com), encouraging them to apply for designation.
Of all the independent schools that requested designation between October 2003 and April 2004, 427 have been granted designation as having a religious character, in six statutory instruments.
To see the full list of schools designated to date, visit www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/stat.htm#2003, which lists all statutory instruments. Once there, search for the following statutory instruments:
Some 274 Church of England, Anglican or Christian Schools have been designated under the order so far. No independent Anglican schools have applied for registration under the Independent Schools (Religious Character of Schools) (Designation Procedure) (Wales) Regulations 2003 yet.
There is no deadline for registration and schools can apply at any time. Without designation, however, schools will have to prove genuine occupational requirement if they wish to discriminate on the grounds of religious belief for employment purposes. Evidence is needed to support the application and some schools are experiencing delay or rejection because insufficient evidence has been given.
Further details from Margaret
Pattinson / Stephanie Lidster at DfES:
Margaret.Pattinson@dfes.gsi.gov.uk
Stephanie.Lidster@dfee.gov.uk
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