Independent schools: making a material change
Request a material change to an independent school (also known as a private school) registered with the Department for Education.
- From:
- Department for Education
- Published
- 20 January 2023
- Last updated
-
2112NovemberJune20232025 — See all updates
Applies to England
Documents
Independent schools: applying for approval to make a material change
PDF, 357475 KB, 2022 pages
Independent schools: change of proprietor guidance
PDF, 347 KB, 19 pages
Details
This guidance is for proprietors and proposed proprietors of independent schools.
It applies to all independent schools, including:including independent:
independent special schoolsindependent residential special schoolsindependent boarding schools
The register of independent schools on Get Information about Schools contains information about independent schools.
Independent schools must get prior approval from the Secretary of State for Education to change their registered details. Independent schools must request a material change to the following registered details:
- proprietor
- school address
- age range of pupils
- school capacity
- gender of entry
- boarding provision
- special educational needs admissions
To request a material change, email your application and relevant documentation to registration.enquiries@education.gov.uk. This is set out in ‘Independent schools: applying for a material change’.
To request a change of proprietor, complete ‘Independent schools: change of proprietor application form’ and email it to registration.enquiries@education.gov.uk. Read ‘Independent schools: change of proprietor guidance’ before completing the form.
Academies and free schools
The guidance does not apply to academies or free schools. They should read Academies: making significant changes or closure.
Updates to this page
Published 20 January 2023
Last updated 2112 NovemberJune 2023
+ show2025
href="#full-history">+ show all updates
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Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-09-14 15:34
Updated the ‘Independent schools: applying for approval to make a material change’ guidance to clarify application requirements and timescales, and add new guidance on school closures and post-18 age range applications.
2025-06-12 12:05
Updated ‘Independent schools: applying for approval to make a material change’ to clarify that a material change application is required even when relying on an exemption within the equality act.
2023-11-21 17:12
Updated ‘Independent schools: applying for approval to make a material change’ to reflect that it can take up to 6 months to receive approval. Added change of proprietor guidance and application form.
2023-01-20 11:08
First published.
Independent schools: applying for approval to make a material change
PDF, 357475 KB, 2022 pages
Independent schools: change of proprietor guidance
PDF, 347 KB, 19 pages
Details
This guidance is for proprietors and proposed proprietors of independent schools.
It applies to all independent schools, including:including independent:
independent special schoolsindependent residential special schoolsindependent boarding schools
The register of independent schools on Get Information about Schools contains information about independent schools.
Independent schools must get prior approval from the Secretary of State for Education to change their registered details. Independent schools must request a material change to the following registered details:
- proprietor
- school address
- age range of pupils
- school capacity
- gender of entry
- boarding provision
- special educational needs admissions
To request a material change, email your application and relevant documentation to registration.enquiries@education.gov.uk. This is set out in ‘Independent schools: applying for a material change’.
To request a change of proprietor, complete ‘Independent schools: change of proprietor application form’ and email it to registration.enquiries@education.gov.uk. Read ‘Independent schools: change of proprietor guidance’ before completing the form.
Academies and free schools
The guidance does not apply to academies or free schools. They should read Academies: making significant changes or closure.
Updates to this page
Published 20 January 2023
Last updated 2112 NovemberJune 2023
+ show2025
href="#full-history">+ show all updates
-
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-09-14 15:34
Updated the ‘Independent schools: applying for approval to make a material change’ guidance to clarify application requirements and timescales, and add new guidance on school closures and post-18 age range applications.
2025-06-12 12:05
Updated ‘Independent schools: applying for approval to make a material change’ to clarify that a material change application is required even when relying on an exemption within the equality act.
2023-11-21 17:12
Updated ‘Independent schools: applying for approval to make a material change’ to reflect that it can take up to 6 months to receive approval. Added change of proprietor guidance and application form.
2023-01-20 11:08
First published.
Details
This guidance is for proprietors and proposed proprietors of independent schools.
It applies to all independent schools, including:including independent:
independentindependentindependent
The register of independent schools on Get Information about Schools contains information about independent schools.
Independent schools must get prior approval from the Secretary of State for Education to change their registered details. Independent schools must request a material change to the following registered details:
- proprietor
- school address
- age range of pupils
- school capacity
- gender of entry
- boarding provision
- special educational needs admissions
To request a material change, email your application and relevant documentation to registration.enquiries@education.gov.uk. This is set out in ‘Independent schools: applying for a material change’.
To request a change of proprietor, complete ‘Independent schools: change of proprietor application form’ and email it to registration.enquiries@education.gov.uk. Read ‘Independent schools: change of proprietor guidance’ before completing the form.
Academies and free schools
The guidance does not apply to academies or free schools. They should read Academies: making significant changes or closure.
Updates to this page
Sign up for emails or print this page
Update history
2026-09-14 15:34
Updated the ‘Independent schools: applying for approval to make a material change’ guidance to clarify application requirements and timescales, and add new guidance on school closures and post-18 age range applications.
2025-06-12 12:05
Updated ‘Independent schools: applying for approval to make a material change’ to clarify that a material change application is required even when relying on an exemption within the equality act.
2023-11-21 17:12
Updated ‘Independent schools: applying for approval to make a material change’ to reflect that it can take up to 6 months to receive approval. Added change of proprietor guidance and application form.
2023-01-20 11:08
First published.