Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether a voluntary-aided English school designated with a religious character can give preference on the grounds of religion in connection with the appointment of every single one of its teachers.

A voluntary aided English school designated with a religious character is permitted to take faith into account when appointing employing teachers - see section 60 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

This provision does potentially apply to the appointment of all teachers at such a school but it does not provide blanket protection or an unlimited exception from the terms of the Equality Act 2010 and is not a licence to discriminate on the basis of religion or belief. If challenged as to the use of section 60 in a particular case, a school would be expected to justify the use of the power in the relevant context, the justification being that it was legitimate to take faith into account in the particular case or context. For example, a school might rely on factors such as the pastoral responsibilities of all teachers, regardless of subject or seniority, and the importance that such pastoral responsibilities are discharged consistently by the teachers in the school.

Also, it is our expectation that schools with a religious character will balance the need to maintain the religious character of their school with that of securing the best staff for their school.