# The Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (England) Order 2026

S.I. 2026/938 · made 26 August 2026

This Order designates Barnet Hill Academy, Barnet, NW4 3ES, a voluntary aided school, as having the religious character specified in article 2(2) in accordance with section 69(3) and (4) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (“the Act”).

Made under: School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (Section 69)

PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/designation-of-schools-having-a-religious-character-england-order-2026/pdf/uksi_20260938_en.pdf

## Introductory text

EDUCATION, ENGLAND
Made 26th August 2026
Coming into force 27th August 2026
The Secretary of State makes this Order in the exercise of the power conferred by section 69(3) and (4) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.
The Secretary of State has followed the procedure specified in the Religious Character of Schools (Designation Procedure) Regulations 1998.

## 1 Citation, commencement and extent

(1) This Order may be cited as the Designation of Schools Having a Religious Character (England) Order 2026 and comes into force on 27th August 2026.
(2) This Order extends to England and Wales.

## 2 Designation of schools

(1) Barnet Hill Academy, Barnet, NW4 3ES, a voluntary aided school, is designated as a school having a religious character.
(2) The religion in accordance with whose tenets religious education is, or may be, required to be provided in accordance with Schedule 19 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998, is Islam.

## Signature

Signed on behalf of the Secretary of State
Lorna Howarth
Deputy Director
Department for Education
26th August 2026

## Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order designates Barnet Hill Academy, Barnet, NW4 3ES, a voluntary aided school, as having the religious character specified in article 2(2) in accordance with section 69(3) and (4) of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 (“the Act”).
Designation as a school which has religious character is relevant for a number of purposes under the Act, notably:
(a) as part of the mechanism for determining the form of religious education to be provided under Schedule 19 to the Act;
(b) as part of the mechanism for determining the form of collective worship to be provided under Schedule 20 to the Act; and
(c) as part of the mechanism for determining school staffing matters under sections 58 to 60 of the Act.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no significant impact on the private, voluntary or public sectors is foreseen.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/938 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/designation-of-schools-having-a-religious-character-england-order-2026
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.