Proposed new schools

This page sets out all the confirmed and potential religiously selective schools that we’re currently aware of. We also have a page dealing with existing schools proposing to expand their intake. If you’ve heard about a proposal in your area that’s not listed, please get in touch and let us know.

If you’re concerned about the admissions arrangements of any school or potential new school then please visit our Get Involved page to find out what you can do.

Religiously designated Free Schools

The following applications to open Free Schools with a religious character have been ‘pre-approved’ (i.e. backed) by the Department for Education to open. These schools can admit up to 50% of students on the grounds of religion:

Local Authority Free school name Phase Religion or belief Year opening
Birmingham The Birmingham Free School Secondary Muslim 2014
Bolton Bolton Free School Secondary Muslim 2014
Coventry Coventry Leadership Academy for Girls Secondary Muslim 2014
Coventry Seva School All through Sikh 2014
Ealing St Mary’s Church of England Primary School Primary Church of England 2014
Enfield Meridian Water Academy – Primary Department Primary Church of England 2014
Hammersmith and Fulham Fulham Boys School Secondary Church of England 2014
Lambeth Trinity Academy Secondary Roman Catholic 2014
Lancashire Burnley High School Secondary Christian – Chapel St 2014
Leicester Falcons’ Primary School, Leicester Primary Sikh 2014
Merton Raynes Park Community School Primary Christian – Chapel St 2014
Preston The Preston Free School Secondary Muslim 2014
Slough Slough Girls’ Leadership Academy Secondary Muslim 2014
Tower Hamlets Canary Wharf College 2 Primary Christian 2014
Waltham Forest Waltham Forest Leadership Academy for Girls Secondary Muslim 2014
Waltham Forest Walthamstow Primary Academy Primary Church of England – ULT 2014
Birmingham King Solomon International Business School All-Through Christian 2015
Manchester Didsbury CE Free School Primary Church of England 2015
Derby Akaal Primary School Primary Sikh 2015
Hertfordshire St Mary’s CE Primary School Primary Church of England 2015
Kingston-upon-Thames Kingston Community School All-Through Christian – Chapel St 2015
Tower Hamlets Canary Wharf College 3 All-Through Christian 2015

Religiously designated sponsored Academies

The following religiously designated Academies have been announced as having been allocated funding through the Targeted Basic Need Programme:

Local authority Project Phase Opening date Sponsor
Barnet Mill Hill East Primary September 2014 London Diocesan Board for Schools Academies Trust
Bradford Douglas Road – BD4 8QW Secondary September 2015 Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust
Hillingdon Yiewsley – UB7 9AE Primary September 2015 London Diocesan Board for Schools Frays Academy Trust
Plymouth Derriford – PL6 5AA Primary September 2015 Diocese of Exeter
Swindon Tadpole Farm – SN26 8DZ Primary September 2014 Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust (DBAT)

In addition, St Joseph’s Catholic College, a secondary school in Swindon, has acquired funding for 420 new school places by 2014 through the Targeted Basic Need Programme. In fact it is planned that this funding is used to provide a new primary school at another site in the town.

Bristol Church Academies Trust (BCAT), the Church of England Diocese of Bristol’s Academies chain, is to sponsor a new primary school at Tadpole Farm, Swindon, due to open in September 2014, after the local authority invited proposals .

Finally, Wellington College (a Church of England private school) is to sponsor a new primary school opening in Tidworth, Wiltshire, due to open in September 2014, after the local authority invited proposals.

Religiously designated Voluntary Aided schools

We are not currently aware of any proposals to establish new Voluntary Aided schools.

Invitations for new school proposals

The following local authorities are currently seeking applications for Free Schools at the locations listed, any of which could result in the opening of a religiously selective school.

The following have recently closed to applications, with the sponsor yet to be announced:

LA Location Phase of Education Capacity Closing date of specification Link to specification
Cambridgeshire Bearscroft Farm Primary 330 16 June Link
Cumbria Workington Secondary 1200 28 February Link
East Devon Cranbrook Secondary 1,100 16 May Link
East Devon Cranbrook Primary 420 16 May Link
Essex Chelmsford Primary 210 17 July Link
Gloucestershire Hardwicke Primary 315 25 July Link
Kent Tunbridge Wells Primary 210 11 March Link
Lincolnshire North Hykeham Primary 210 5 June Link
North Yorkshire Staynor Hall, Selby Primary 210 13 June Link
Oxfordshire Barton Primary 315 31 March Link
Sandwell Oldbury Secondary 1200 8 January Link
South Gloucestershire Emersons Green East Primary 420 27 June Link
Telford and Wrekin Lawley Primary 210 27 June Link

The following are currently open to applications:

LA Location Phase of Education Capacity Closing date of specification Link to specification
Essex Roseacres, Takeley Primary 210 5 September Link
Kent Cheeseman’s Green Primary 420 27 August Link

Local authorities have also been allocated funding to provide new schools in the following locations, through the Targeted Basic Need Programme:

Local Authority

Location/Postcode

Places

Brent [Fulton Road] 60
Croydon [CR0 2AN] 420
Croydon [CR0 4HA] 420
Croydon [CR2 6HS] 420
Croydon [CR7 6AW] 420
Croydon [SE25 4QL and SE25 4XE] 1150
Thurrock [RM17] 682