Faith school designation reforms

This consultation invited views on two proposals:  

Part one: to remove the 50% cap on faith admissions for new and existing free schools, helping to encourage all faith groups and trusts to apply to open new faith free schools within the tenets of their faith. 

Part two: to allow new special academies and existing special academies registered with the Department for Education as having a faith ethos to apply to be designated as having a religious character.  

A total of 3668 responses were received. Most respondents (66%) disagreed or strongly disagreed with both proposals.  

We would like to thank all those who responded to the consultation. The government will not be moving forward with these proposals at this time and will continue to keep these policy areas under review.

The government has committed to remove barriers to opportunity and raise school standards. We believe work underway in other areas to this consultation will better support our mission, and we look forward to working in partnership with all types of school, including the important contribution of faith schools, in achieving our mission.