Equality Act 2010

3 (1) If the responsible body of a single-sex school decides to alter its admissions arrangements so that the school will cease to be a single-sex school, the body may apply for a transitional exemption order in relation to the school. E+W+S

(2) If the responsible body of a school to which paragraph 2 applies decides to alter its admissions arrangements so that the school will cease to be one to which that paragraph applies, the body may apply for a transitional exemption order in relation to the school.

(3) A transitional exemption order in relation to a school is an order which, during the period specified in the order as the transitional period, authorises—

(a) sex discrimination by the responsible body of the school in the arrangements it makes for deciding who is offered admission as a pupil;

(b) the responsible body, in the circumstances specified in the order, not to admit a person as a pupil because of the person's sex.

(4) Paragraph 4 applies in relation to the making of transitional exemption orders.

(5) The responsible body of a school does not contravene this Act, so far as relating to sex discrimination, if—

(a) in accordance with a transitional exemption order, or

(b) pending the determination of an application for a transitional exemption order in relation to the school,

it does not admit a person as a pupil because of the person's sex.