Religious Character
DfE Performance Tables
Religious denomination or character of the school
Understanding Religious Character
Religious character indicates whether a school has a religious affiliation or designation. Faith schools make up a significant portion of state-funded education in England.
Types of Faith Schools
Church of England: The largest group of faith schools, particularly at primary level. Range from strongly religious to those with minimal religious practice.
Roman Catholic: Strong faith identity with regular Mass, religious education, and Catholic ethos throughout school life.
Other Christian: Methodist, Baptist, and other Christian denominations.
Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu: Schools serving specific faith communities, following their religious traditions.
Does Not Apply: Schools with no religious character — the majority of state schools.
What Faith Schools Offer
Faith schools typically feature:
- Religious education in their tradition
- Collective worship
- Strong values-based ethos
- Community links with local religious institutions
- Sometimes, faith-based admissions criteria
Admissions Considerations
Many faith schools prioritise:
- Families who actively practice the faith
- Regular church/mosque/temple attendance
- Supporting letters from religious leaders
Some faith schools are more inclusive, while others strictly prioritise practicing families. Check individual school admissions policies.
For Parents
Consider whether:
- Your family practices the faith (may affect admission chances)
- You want religious education as part of schooling
- The school’s values align with your family’s
- The academic and pastoral quality meets your needs
Faith schools include both excellent and struggling institutions — religious character alone doesn’t guarantee quality.
Technical Details
- Column Name
- religious_character
- Data Source
- DfE Performance Tables
Coverage by School Phase
How many schools have data available for this field.
This field does not contribute to the performance score calculation.
Value Distribution by School Phase
Distribution of categorical values across schools.