feat(search): one state school group, not academy and council-run

The School type filter split state schools into "academy or free
school" and "council-run". The two were near-halves of one pool (11,186
and 9,316 schools), so choosing one rarely narrowed anything, and the
split did not follow the difference a parent feels most, admissions:
voluntary aided and foundation schools set their own, as academies do.
Faith, which voluntary aided mostly meant, has its own filter.

They are now one group, "State school (free)", leaving five. The old
keys academy and council resolve to state, so a link made with them
keeps working instead of falling through to the raw-label path and
returning nothing.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

backend/app.py

@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@ from .data_loader import get_data_info as get_db_info
 from . import flags
 from .places import build_place_index, build_place_registry, places_for_urn
 from .schemas import METRIC_DEFINITIONS, PHASE_GROUPS, RANKING_COLUMNS, SCHOOL_COLUMNS
+from .school_groups import (
+    FAITH_GROUPS,
+    FAITH_KEYS,
+    TYPE_GROUPS,
+    faith_groups_for,
+    type_group_for,
+    type_group_key,
+)
 from .nearby_schools import select_nearby
 from .utils import clean_for_json, convert_to_native
 
@@ -608,6 +616,15 @@ def verify_admin_api_key(x_api_key: str = Header(None)) -> bool:
 
 
 # Input validation helpers
+def _names_in_group(names: pd.Series, in_group) -> set:
+    """The distinct names in a column that a group predicate accepts.
+
+    Evaluated once per distinct name rather than per row, so a filter over
+    every school costs a few dozen lookups.
+    """
+    return {n for n in names.dropna().unique() if in_group(n)}
+
+
 def sanitize_search_input(value: Optional[str], max_length: int = 100) -> Optional[str]:
     """Sanitize search input to prevent injection attacks."""
     if value is None:
@@ -744,6 +761,7 @@ async def get_schools(
     gender: Optional[str] = Query(None, description="Filter by gender (Mixed/Boys/Girls)", max_length=50),
     admissions_policy: Optional[str] = Query(None, description="Filter by admissions policy", max_length=100),
     has_sixth_form: Optional[str] = Query(None, description="Filter by sixth form presence: yes/no", max_length=3),
+    faith: Optional[str] = Query(None, description="Filter by faith group key", max_length=40),
 ):
     """
     Get list of schools with pagination.
@@ -756,6 +774,7 @@ async def get_schools(
     local_authority = sanitize_search_input(local_authority)
     school_type = sanitize_search_input(school_type)
     phase = sanitize_search_input(phase)
+    faith = sanitize_search_input(faith)
     postcode = validate_postcode(postcode)
 
     # Load the pre-computed latest-year snapshot (cached after first request / startup).
@@ -796,6 +815,22 @@ async def get_schools(
             flag = df_latest["age_range"].str.contains("18", na=False)
         df_latest = df_latest[flag if has_sixth_form == "yes" else ~flag]
 
+    # Faith group (backend/school_groups.py). A joint school is in every faith
+    # its label names; a missing religious character is "none". An unknown key
+    # matches nothing rather than being ignored, so a typo cannot show all.
+    if faith:
+        faith_key = faith.lower()
+        if faith_key in FAITH_KEYS and "religious_denomination" in df_latest.columns:
+            column = df_latest["religious_denomination"]
+            matches = column.isin(_names_in_group(column, lambda n: faith_key in faith_groups_for(n)))
+            # _names_in_group skips missing names; a missing religious
+            # character is "No religious character".
+            if faith_key == "none":
+                matches = matches | column.isna()
+            df_latest = df_latest[matches]
+        else:
+            df_latest = df_latest.iloc[0:0]
+
     # Include key result metrics for display on cards
     location_cols = ["latitude", "longitude"]
     result_cols = [
@@ -883,10 +918,17 @@ async def get_schools(
             schools_df["local_authority"].str.lower() == local_authority.lower()
         ]
 
+    # A type group key (backend/school_groups.py), old keys included, or for
+    # an old link a raw GIAS type label, matched exactly as before.
     if school_type:
-        schools_df = schools_df[
-            schools_df["school_type"].str.lower() == school_type.lower()
-        ]
+        type_key = type_group_key(school_type)
+        if type_key:
+            column = schools_df["school_type"]
+            schools_df = schools_df[
+                column.isin(_names_in_group(column, lambda n: type_group_for(n) == type_key))
+            ]
+        else:
+            schools_df = schools_df[schools_df["school_type"].str.lower() == school_type.lower()]
 
     # Compute result-scoped filter values (before pagination).
     # Gender and admissions are secondary-only filters — scope them to schools
@@ -1161,6 +1203,8 @@ async def get_filter_options(request: Request):
             "local_authorities": [],
             "school_types": [],
             "years": [],
+            "school_type_groups": [],
+            "faiths": [],
         }
 
     # Phases: return values from data, ordered sensibly
@@ -1170,6 +1214,18 @@ async def get_filter_options(request: Request):
     genders = clean_filter_values(secondary_df["gender"]) if "gender" in secondary_df.columns else []
     admissions_policies = clean_filter_values(secondary_df["admissions_policy"]) if "admissions_policy" in secondary_df.columns else []
 
+    def offered(groups, present):
+        return [{"value": key, "label": label} for key, label, _ in groups if key in present]
+
+    type_groups_present = (
+        {type_group_for(n) for n in df["school_type"].dropna().unique()} - {None}
+        if "school_type" in df.columns else set()
+    )
+    faiths_present = (
+        {f for n in df["religious_denomination"].unique() for f in faith_groups_for(n)}
+        if "religious_denomination" in df.columns else set()
+    )
+
     return {
         "local_authorities": clean_filter_values(df["local_authority"]) if "local_authority" in df.columns else [],
         "school_types": clean_filter_values(df["school_type"]) if "school_type" in df.columns else [],
@@ -1177,6 +1233,8 @@ async def get_filter_options(request: Request):
         "phases": phases,
         "genders": genders,
         "admissions_policies": admissions_policies,
+        "school_type_groups": offered(TYPE_GROUPS, type_groups_present),
+        "faiths": offered(FAITH_GROUPS, faiths_present),
     }
 
 

backend/school_groups.py

@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+"""Parent-facing groups over GIAS establishment types and religious characters.
+
+The 34 GIAS establishment types describe governance and funding, which for a
+mainstream state school barely changes what a parent experiences. The search
+filter offers five groups a parent recognises instead, and a faith filter in
+place of the faith signal that "Voluntary aided" and "Voluntary controlled"
+only half carry. See
+docs/superpowers/specs/2026-10-02-school-type-groups-and-faith-filter-design.md.
+
+Groups are defined over GIAS codes and looked up by the translated name,
+because the DataFrame the API filters carries names only: the codes are
+replaced at load (data_loader.translate_gias_code_columns), the legacy-name
+mart fallback never had them, and test fixtures are written in names.
+"""
+
+from typing import Optional
+
+import pandas as pd
+
+from .gias_codes import RELIGIOUS_CHARACTER, SCHOOL_TYPE
+
+# (key, label, GIAS TypeOfEstablishment codes), in the order shown.
+TYPE_GROUPS: tuple[tuple[str, str, frozenset[int]], ...] = (
+    # Every mainstream state school, academy or council-run: Academy sponsor
+    # led, Academy converter, Free schools, University technical college,
+    # Studio schools, City technology college, Community, Voluntary aided,
+    # Voluntary controlled, Foundation, LA nursery. Academy against council-run
+    # was two near-halves of one pool, and did not follow the difference a
+    # parent feels most, admissions: voluntary aided and foundation schools
+    # set their own, as academies do. Faith, which voluntary aided mostly
+    # meant, has its own filter.
+    ("state", "State school (free)",
+     frozenset({28, 34, 35, 40, 41, 6, 1, 2, 3, 5, 15})),
+    ("independent", "Independent (fee-paying)", frozenset({11})),
+    # Every special type, independent ones included (usually funded by the
+    # council through an EHCP, so SEND provision to a parent, not private
+    # school), and Special post 16 institutions.
+    ("special", "Special school (SEND)", frozenset({7, 8, 10, 12, 32, 33, 36, 44})),
+    # Further education, Sixth form centres, the 16-19 academies and free schools.
+    ("post16", "Sixth form or college", frozenset({18, 31, 39, 45, 46})),
+    # Pupil referral units and AP academies and free schools. Last: parents do
+    # not apply to these; the local authority places children there.
+    ("alternative", "Alternative provision", frozenset({14, 38, 42, 43})),
+)
+
+# In no group, so reachable only under "Any school type": Secure units,
+# Miscellaneous, Higher education institutions, Online provider, Institution
+# funded by other government department, Academy secure 16 to 19.
+UNOFFERED_TYPE_CODES: frozenset[int] = frozenset({24, 27, 29, 49, 56, 57})
+
+# (key, label, GIAS ReligiousCharacter codes), in the order shown. A joint
+# school is in every faith its label names; a generic "Christian" beside a
+# named church adds nothing.
+FAITH_GROUPS: tuple[tuple[str, str, frozenset[int]], ...] = (
+    # Does not apply, None, and 99 (a blank label).
+    ("none", "No religious character", frozenset({0, 6, 99})),
+    ("church_of_england", "Church of England",
+     frozenset({2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 41, 48})),
+    ("roman_catholic", "Roman Catholic", frozenset({3, 11, 13, 35, 48})),
+    # 28 "Inter- / non- denominational" is how GIAS files Christian schools
+    # tied to no one church.
+    ("other_christian", "Other Christian",
+     frozenset({4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 26, 28, 30, 33,
+                37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 44, 45, 46, 47})),
+    ("jewish", "Jewish", frozenset({5, 36, 43})),
+    ("muslim", "Muslim", frozenset({7, 42, 49})),
+    ("other_faith", "Other faith", frozenset({21, 24, 25, 29})),
+)
+
+TYPE_GROUP_KEYS: frozenset[str] = frozenset(k for k, _, _ in TYPE_GROUPS)
+
+# Keys a group was offered under before, so their links keep working: "state"
+# was "academy" and "council" until 2026-10-02.
+TYPE_GROUP_ALIASES: dict[str, str] = {"academy": "state", "council": "state"}
+FAITH_KEYS: frozenset[str] = frozenset(k for k, _, _ in FAITH_GROUPS)
+
+
+def _key(name: str) -> str:
+    return name.strip().lower()
+
+
+_TYPE_GROUP_BY_NAME: dict[str, str] = {
+    _key(SCHOOL_TYPE[code]): key
+    for key, _, codes in TYPE_GROUPS
+    for code in codes
+    if code in SCHOOL_TYPE
+}
+
+_FAITHS_BY_NAME: dict[str, tuple[str, ...]] = {}
+for _faith, _, _codes in FAITH_GROUPS:
+    for _code in sorted(_codes):
+        if _code in RELIGIOUS_CHARACTER:
+            _name = _key(RELIGIOUS_CHARACTER[_code])
+            _FAITHS_BY_NAME[_name] = _FAITHS_BY_NAME.get(_name, ()) + (_faith,)
+
+
+def type_group_key(value: str) -> Optional[str]:
+    """The type group a school_type URL value names, old keys included, or
+    None when it names no group (an old link's raw GIAS type)."""
+    v = value.strip().lower()
+    v = TYPE_GROUP_ALIASES.get(v, v)
+    return v if v in TYPE_GROUP_KEYS else None
+
+
+def type_group_for(name: object) -> Optional[str]:
+    """The type group of a GIAS establishment type name, or None."""
+    if not isinstance(name, str):
+        return None
+    return _TYPE_GROUP_BY_NAME.get(_key(name))
+
+
+def faith_groups_for(name: object) -> tuple[str, ...]:
+    """The faith groups of a GIAS religious character name.
+
+    A missing or blank name is "No religious character". A name the
+    dictionary does not know has no faith, so it matches no faith option.
+    """
+    if not isinstance(name, str):
+        return ("none",) if name is None or pd.isna(name) else ()
+    return _FAITHS_BY_NAME.get(_key(name), ())

backend/tests/test_school_groups.py

@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+"""Parent-facing groups over GIAS establishment types and religious characters.
+
+Every GIAS code must be accounted for, so a new DfE code fails here instead of
+silently vanishing from the filter.
+"""
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import numpy as np
+import pytest
+import yaml
+
+from backend.gias_codes import RELIGIOUS_CHARACTER, SCHOOL_TYPE
+from backend.school_groups import (
+    FAITH_GROUPS,
+    TYPE_GROUPS,
+    UNOFFERED_TYPE_CODES,
+    faith_groups_for,
+    type_group_for,
+    type_group_key,
+)
+
+DBT_PROJECT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2] / "pipeline" / "transform" / "dbt_project.yml"
+
+
+def _non_england_codes() -> set[int]:
+    return set(yaml.safe_load(DBT_PROJECT.read_text())["vars"]["non_england_school_type_codes"])
+
+
+def test_every_type_code_is_in_exactly_one_place():
+    places = [codes for _, _, codes in TYPE_GROUPS] + [UNOFFERED_TYPE_CODES, _non_england_codes()]
+    for code in SCHOOL_TYPE:
+        homes = sum(code in p for p in places)
+        assert homes == 1, f"type code {code} ({SCHOOL_TYPE[code]}) is in {homes} places"
+
+
+def test_every_religion_code_has_a_faith():
+    for code, name in RELIGIOUS_CHARACTER.items():
+        assert any(code in codes for _, _, codes in FAITH_GROUPS), f"{code} {name!r}"
+
+
+def test_type_groups_in_display_order():
+    assert [k for k, _, _ in TYPE_GROUPS] == [
+        "state", "independent", "special", "post16", "alternative"]
+
+
+def test_faiths_in_display_order():
+    assert [k for k, _, _ in FAITH_GROUPS] == [
+        "none", "church_of_england", "roman_catholic", "other_christian",
+        "jewish", "muslim", "other_faith"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("name, group", [
+    ("Academy converter", "state"),
+    ("University technical college", "state"),
+    ("Voluntary aided school", "state"),
+    ("Local authority nursery school", "state"),
+    ("Other independent school", "independent"),
+    ("Other independent special school", "special"),
+    ("Special post 16 institution", "special"),
+    ("Further education", "post16"),
+    ("Pupil referral unit", "alternative"),
+    ("academy CONVERTER", "state"),
+])
+def test_type_group_by_name(name, group):
+    assert type_group_for(name) == group
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("value, key", [
+    ("state", "state"),
+    ("Special", "special"),
+    # The two state groups that preceded "state", kept so their links still work.
+    ("academy", "state"),
+    ("Council", "state"),
+    ("Community school", None),
+    ("", None),
+])
+def test_type_group_key_resolves_keys_and_old_keys(value, key):
+    assert type_group_key(value) == key
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("name", [
+    "Higher education institutions", "Miscellaneous", "Unknown (9999)", "Academy", "", None, np.nan,
+])
+def test_unoffered_or_unknown_types_have_no_group(name):
+    assert type_group_for(name) is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("name, faiths", [
+    ("Roman Catholic/Church of England", ("church_of_england", "roman_catholic")),
+    ("Roman Catholic/Anglican", ("church_of_england", "roman_catholic")),
+    ("Church of England/Methodist", ("church_of_england", "other_christian")),
+    ("Church of England/Christian", ("church_of_england",)),
+    ("Catholic", ("roman_catholic",)),
+    ("Inter- / non- denominational", ("other_christian",)),
+    ("Orthodox Jewish", ("jewish",)),
+    ("Sunni Deobandi", ("muslim",)),
+    ("Hindu", ("other_faith",)),
+    ("Does not apply", ("none",)),
+    ("None", ("none",)),
+])
+def test_faiths_by_name(name, faiths):
+    assert faith_groups_for(name) == faiths
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("missing", [None, np.nan, "", "  "])
+def test_a_missing_religion_is_no_religious_character(missing):
+    assert faith_groups_for(missing) == ("none",)
+
+
+def test_an_unknown_religion_has_no_faith():
+    assert faith_groups_for("Unknown (77)") == ()

backend/tests/test_type_and_faith_filters.py

@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+"""/api/schools school-type groups and faith filter, and their /api/filters lists."""
+
+import numpy as np
+import pandas as pd
+import pytest
+from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+
+# urn -> (GIAS school type, GIAS religious character)
+SCHOOLS = {
+    100001: ("Community school", "Does not apply"),
+    100002: ("Voluntary aided school", "Roman Catholic"),
+    100003: ("Academy converter", "Roman Catholic/Church of England"),
+    100004: ("Community special school", None),
+    100005: ("Academy special converter", "Church of England"),
+    100006: ("Other independent school", "Jewish"),
+    100007: ("Miscellaneous", ""),
+}
+
+
+def _schools_df() -> pd.DataFrame:
+    base = {
+        "local_authority": "Testshire", "address": "1 Test Street", "town": "Testtown",
+        "postcode": "TS1 1AA", "age_range": "4-11", "has_sixth_form": None,
+        "gender": "Mixed", "admissions_policy": None, "ofsted_grade": np.nan,
+        "ofsted_date": None, "ofsted_framework": None, "latitude": 51.5,
+        "longitude": -0.1, "year": 202425, "total_pupils": 300,
+        "rwm_expected_pct": np.nan, "attainment_8_score": np.nan, "phase": "Primary",
+    }
+    return pd.DataFrame([
+        {**base, "urn": urn, "school_name": f"School {urn}",
+         "school_type": t, "religious_denomination": r}
+        for urn, (t, r) in SCHOOLS.items()
+    ])
+
+
+@pytest.fixture()
+def client(monkeypatch):
+    from backend import app as app_module
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(app_module, "load_latest_school_data", _schools_df)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(app_module, "load_school_data", _schools_df)
+    return TestClient(app_module.app, raise_server_exceptions=False)
+
+
+def _urns(client, **params):
+    resp = client.get("/api/schools", params={"page_size": 50, **params})
+    assert resp.status_code == 200, resp.text
+    return sorted(s["urn"] for s in resp.json()["schools"])
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("key, urns", [
+    ("state", [100001, 100002, 100003]),
+    ("academy", [100001, 100002, 100003]),
+    ("council", [100001, 100002, 100003]),
+    ("special", [100004, 100005]),
+    ("independent", [100006]),
+    ("Special", [100004, 100005]),
+])
+def test_a_type_group_key_filters_to_its_group(client, key, urns):
+    assert _urns(client, school_type=key) == urns
+
+
+def test_a_raw_type_label_still_filters_exactly(client):
+    assert _urns(client, school_type="Community school") == [100001]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("key, urns", [
+    ("roman_catholic", [100002, 100003]),
+    ("church_of_england", [100003, 100005]),
+    ("none", [100001, 100004, 100007]),
+    ("jewish", [100006]),
+    ("Roman_Catholic", [100002, 100003]),
+])
+def test_faith_filters_to_its_group_joint_schools_included(client, key, urns):
+    assert _urns(client, faith=key) == urns
+
+
+def test_an_unknown_faith_returns_nothing(client):
+    assert _urns(client, faith="nonsense") == []
+
+
+def test_type_and_faith_combine(client):
+    assert _urns(client, school_type="special", faith="church_of_england") == [100005]
+
+
+def test_filters_lists_only_groups_present_in_order(client):
+    body = client.get("/api/filters").json()
+    assert body["school_type_groups"] == [
+        {"value": "state", "label": "State school (free)"},
+        {"value": "independent", "label": "Independent (fee-paying)"},
+        {"value": "special", "label": "Special school (SEND)"},
+    ]
+    assert body["faiths"] == [
+        {"value": "none", "label": "No religious character"},
+        {"value": "church_of_england", "label": "Church of England"},
+        {"value": "roman_catholic", "label": "Roman Catholic"},
+        {"value": "jewish", "label": "Jewish"},
+    ]
+    # The raw list is still there for anything that reads it.
+    assert "Community school" in body["school_types"]

docs/superpowers/plans/2026-10-02-school-type-groups-and-faith-filter.md

@@ -0,0 +1,911 @@
+# School Type Groups and a Faith Filter Implementation Plan
+
+> **For agentic workers:** REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use superpowers:subagent-driven-development (recommended) or superpowers:executing-plans to implement this plan task-by-task. Steps use checkbox (`- [ ]`) syntax for tracking.
+
+**Goal:** Replace the School type filter's 34 GIAS types with six parent-facing groups, and add a Faith filter with eight options.
+
+**Architecture:** A new backend module `backend/school_groups.py` holds both groupings as GIAS code sets and exposes lookups by the translated *name* (the DataFrame the API filters only carries names). `/api/schools` accepts a group key for `school_type` and a new `faith` key; `/api/filters` gains `school_type_groups` and `faiths` as `{value, label}` lists. The frontend's FilterBar reads those lists for its School type select and a new Faith select.
+
+**Tech Stack:** FastAPI + pandas (backend, pytest via uv), Next.js 15 / React (frontend, Jest + Testing Library), Playwright (E2E against staging).
+
+**Spec:** `docs/superpowers/specs/2026-10-02-school-type-groups-and-faith-filter-design.md`
+
+## Global Constraints
+
+- Type group keys, labels and order, verbatim: `academy` "State school: academy or free school", `council` "State school: council-run", `independent` "Independent (fee-paying)", `special` "Special school (SEND)", `post16` "Sixth form or college", `alternative` "Alternative provision".
+- Faith keys, labels and order, verbatim: `none` "No religious character", `church_of_england` "Church of England", `roman_catholic` "Roman Catholic", `other_christian` "Other Christian", `jewish` "Jewish", `muslim` "Muslim", `other_faith` "Other faith".
+- Select defaults, verbatim: "Any school type", "Any faith or none". Faith select `aria-label="Faith"`.
+- `/api/filters` keeps `school_types` (raw list) unchanged; the new keys are additions.
+- An old raw-label `school_type` value (e.g. `Community school`) still filters by that label exactly.
+- An unknown `faith` key returns no schools.
+- Do not change `backend/gias_codes.py` or `pipeline/scripts/gias_codes.py` (their parity is tested).
+- No copy may use an em dash (`__tests__/components/noEmDashCopy.test.ts`).
+- Backend tests run from the repo root with: `uv run --with-requirements requirements.txt --with pytest --with "httpx==0.27.0" python -m pytest backend/tests -q`
+- Frontend checks run from `nextjs-app/`: `npx jest` and `npx tsc --noEmit`.
+- Do not start a local server. E2E journeys are verified against staging after merge.
+
+## Review Focus
+
+- A school whose `religious_denomination` is `None`/NaN or `""` (GIAS code 99) must count as "No religious character", not drop out of every faith option. Pinned in Task 1.
+- A type or religion label the dictionaries do not know (e.g. `"Unknown (9999)"`, or a test fixture's `"Academy"`) must map to no group without raising. Pinned in Task 1.
+- `/api/filters` returning no `school_type_groups`/`faiths` (API failed, or an older backend) must leave the selects out rather than render "Any…" alone. Pinned in Task 3.
+- An old bookmarked URL with `school_type=Community+school` must still return community schools and show a chip with its raw label. Pinned in Tasks 2 and 3.
+- Mixed case in a key (`?faith=Roman_Catholic`, `?school_type=Special`) must still match. Pinned in Task 2.
+
+---
+
+## File Structure
+
+| File | Responsibility |
+|---|---|
+| `backend/school_groups.py` (new) | The two groupings as code sets, and name-based lookups. Nothing else. |
+| `backend/tests/test_school_groups.py` (new) | Coverage of every GIAS code, joint faiths, unknown/blank names. |
+| `backend/app.py` (modify) | `faith` param; group-key branch for `school_type`; two new `/api/filters` keys. |
+| `backend/tests/test_type_and_faith_filters.py` (new) | API behaviour of both filters and the new `/api/filters` keys. |
+| `nextjs-app/lib/types.ts` (modify) | `FilterOption`; optional `school_type_groups`/`faiths` on `Filters`; `faith` on `SchoolSearchParams`. |
+| `nextjs-app/app/(frontend)/page.tsx` (modify) | Read and forward `faith`. |
+| `nextjs-app/components/FilterBar.tsx` (modify) | Grouped School type options; Faith select; chips, counts, analytics. |
+| `nextjs-app/__tests__/components/FilterBarTypeFaith.test.tsx` (new) | Frontend behaviour of both selects. |
+| Existing FilterBar tests (modify) | Fixtures move from raw types to groups. |
+| `e2e/tests/journeys.spec.ts` (modify) | A journey for both filters. |
+| Spec (modify) | Architecture section: grouping is by name at filter time. |
+
+---
+
+### Task 1: The groupings module
+
+**Files:**
+- Create: `backend/school_groups.py`
+- Test: `backend/tests/test_school_groups.py`
+- Modify: `docs/superpowers/specs/2026-10-02-school-type-groups-and-faith-filter-design.md` (Architecture)
+
+**Interfaces:**
+- Consumes: `backend.gias_codes.SCHOOL_TYPE: dict[int, str]`, `backend.gias_codes.RELIGIOUS_CHARACTER: dict[int, str]` (code 99 maps to `""`).
+- Produces:
+  - `TYPE_GROUPS: tuple[tuple[str, str, frozenset[int]], ...]` (key, label, codes), in display order
+  - `UNOFFERED_TYPE_CODES: frozenset[int]`
+  - `FAITH_GROUPS: tuple[tuple[str, str, frozenset[int]], ...]`, in display order
+  - `TYPE_GROUP_KEYS: frozenset[str]`, `FAITH_KEYS: frozenset[str]`
+  - `type_group_for(name: object) -> str | None`
+  - `faith_groups_for(name: object) -> tuple[str, ...]`
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Write the failing tests**
+
+Create `backend/tests/test_school_groups.py`:
+
+```python
+"""Parent-facing groups over GIAS establishment types and religious characters.
+
+Every GIAS code must be accounted for, so a new DfE code fails here instead of
+silently vanishing from the filter.
+"""
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import numpy as np
+import pytest
+import yaml
+
+from backend.gias_codes import RELIGIOUS_CHARACTER, SCHOOL_TYPE
+from backend.school_groups import (
+    FAITH_GROUPS,
+    TYPE_GROUPS,
+    UNOFFERED_TYPE_CODES,
+    faith_groups_for,
+    type_group_for,
+)
+
+DBT_PROJECT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2] / "pipeline" / "transform" / "dbt_project.yml"
+
+
+def _non_england_codes() -> set[int]:
+    return set(yaml.safe_load(DBT_PROJECT.read_text())["vars"]["non_england_school_type_codes"])
+
+
+def test_every_type_code_is_in_exactly_one_place():
+    places = [codes for _, _, codes in TYPE_GROUPS] + [UNOFFERED_TYPE_CODES, _non_england_codes()]
+    for code in SCHOOL_TYPE:
+        homes = sum(code in p for p in places)
+        assert homes == 1, f"type code {code} ({SCHOOL_TYPE[code]}) is in {homes} places"
+
+
+def test_every_religion_code_has_a_faith():
+    for code, name in RELIGIOUS_CHARACTER.items():
+        assert any(code in codes for _, _, codes in FAITH_GROUPS), f"{code} {name!r}"
+
+
+def test_type_groups_in_display_order():
+    assert [k for k, _, _ in TYPE_GROUPS] == [
+        "academy", "council", "independent", "special", "post16", "alternative"]
+
+
+def test_faiths_in_display_order():
+    assert [k for k, _, _ in FAITH_GROUPS] == [
+        "none", "church_of_england", "roman_catholic", "other_christian",
+        "jewish", "muslim", "other_faith"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("name, group", [
+    ("Academy converter", "academy"),
+    ("University technical college", "academy"),
+    ("Voluntary aided school", "council"),
+    ("Local authority nursery school", "council"),
+    ("Other independent school", "independent"),
+    ("Other independent special school", "special"),
+    ("Special post 16 institution", "special"),
+    ("Further education", "post16"),
+    ("Pupil referral unit", "alternative"),
+    ("academy CONVERTER", "academy"),
+])
+def test_type_group_by_name(name, group):
+    assert type_group_for(name) == group
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("name", [
+    "Higher education institutions", "Miscellaneous", "Unknown (9999)", "Academy", "", None, np.nan,
+])
+def test_unoffered_or_unknown_types_have_no_group(name):
+    assert type_group_for(name) is None
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("name, faiths", [
+    ("Roman Catholic/Church of England", ("church_of_england", "roman_catholic")),
+    ("Roman Catholic/Anglican", ("church_of_england", "roman_catholic")),
+    ("Church of England/Methodist", ("church_of_england", "other_christian")),
+    ("Church of England/Christian", ("church_of_england",)),
+    ("Catholic", ("roman_catholic",)),
+    ("Inter- / non- denominational", ("other_christian",)),
+    ("Orthodox Jewish", ("jewish",)),
+    ("Sunni Deobandi", ("muslim",)),
+    ("Hindu", ("other_faith",)),
+    ("Does not apply", ("none",)),
+    ("None", ("none",)),
+])
+def test_faiths_by_name(name, faiths):
+    assert faith_groups_for(name) == faiths
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("missing", [None, np.nan, "", "  "])
+def test_a_missing_religion_is_no_religious_character(missing):
+    assert faith_groups_for(missing) == ("none",)
+
+
+def test_an_unknown_religion_has_no_faith():
+    assert faith_groups_for("Unknown (77)") == ()
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Run them to see them fail**
+
+Run: `uv run --with-requirements requirements.txt --with pytest --with "httpx==0.27.0" python -m pytest backend/tests/test_school_groups.py -q`
+Expected: collection error, `ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'backend.school_groups'`.
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Write the module**
+
+Create `backend/school_groups.py`:
+
+```python
+"""Parent-facing groups over GIAS establishment types and religious characters.
+
+The 34 GIAS establishment types describe governance and funding, which for a
+mainstream state school barely changes what a parent experiences. The search
+filter offers six groups a parent recognises instead, and a faith filter in
+place of the faith signal that "Voluntary aided" and "Voluntary controlled"
+only half carry. See
+docs/superpowers/specs/2026-10-02-school-type-groups-and-faith-filter-design.md.
+
+Groups are defined over GIAS codes and looked up by the translated name,
+because the DataFrame the API filters carries names only: the codes are
+replaced at load (data_loader.translate_gias_code_columns), the legacy-name
+mart fallback never had them, and test fixtures are written in names.
+"""
+
+from typing import Optional
+
+import pandas as pd
+
+from .gias_codes import RELIGIOUS_CHARACTER, SCHOOL_TYPE
+
+# (key, label, GIAS TypeOfEstablishment codes), in the order shown.
+TYPE_GROUPS: tuple[tuple[str, str, frozenset[int]], ...] = (
+    # Academy sponsor led, Academy converter, Free schools, University technical
+    # college, Studio schools, City technology college. UTCs and studio schools
+    # are legally academies, and a family considering one searches by name.
+    ("academy", "State school: academy or free school", frozenset({28, 34, 35, 40, 41, 6})),
+    # Community, Voluntary aided, Voluntary controlled, Foundation, LA nursery.
+    ("council", "State school: council-run", frozenset({1, 2, 3, 5, 15})),
+    ("independent", "Independent (fee-paying)", frozenset({11})),
+    # Every special type, independent ones included (usually funded by the
+    # council through an EHCP, so SEND provision to a parent, not private
+    # school), and Special post 16 institutions.
+    ("special", "Special school (SEND)", frozenset({7, 8, 10, 12, 32, 33, 36, 44})),
+    # Further education, Sixth form centres, the 16-19 academies and free schools.
+    ("post16", "Sixth form or college", frozenset({18, 31, 39, 45, 46})),
+    # Pupil referral units and AP academies and free schools. Last: parents do
+    # not apply to these; the local authority places children there.
+    ("alternative", "Alternative provision", frozenset({14, 38, 42, 43})),
+)
+
+# In no group, so reachable only under "Any school type": Secure units,
+# Miscellaneous, Higher education institutions, Online provider, Institution
+# funded by other government department, Academy secure 16 to 19.
+UNOFFERED_TYPE_CODES: frozenset[int] = frozenset({24, 27, 29, 49, 56, 57})
+
+# (key, label, GIAS ReligiousCharacter codes), in the order shown. A joint
+# school is in every faith its label names; a generic "Christian" beside a
+# named church adds nothing.
+FAITH_GROUPS: tuple[tuple[str, str, frozenset[int]], ...] = (
+    # Does not apply, None, and 99 (a blank label).
+    ("none", "No religious character", frozenset({0, 6, 99})),
+    ("church_of_england", "Church of England",
+     frozenset({2, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 20, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 41, 48})),
+    ("roman_catholic", "Roman Catholic", frozenset({3, 11, 13, 35, 48})),
+    # 28 "Inter- / non- denominational" is how GIAS files Christian schools
+    # tied to no one church.
+    ("other_christian", "Other Christian",
+     frozenset({4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 26, 28, 30, 33,
+                37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 44, 45, 46, 47})),
+    ("jewish", "Jewish", frozenset({5, 36, 43})),
+    ("muslim", "Muslim", frozenset({7, 42, 49})),
+    ("other_faith", "Other faith", frozenset({21, 24, 25, 29})),
+)
+
+TYPE_GROUP_KEYS: frozenset[str] = frozenset(k for k, _, _ in TYPE_GROUPS)
+FAITH_KEYS: frozenset[str] = frozenset(k for k, _, _ in FAITH_GROUPS)
+
+
+def _key(name: str) -> str:
+    return name.strip().lower()
+
+
+_TYPE_GROUP_BY_NAME: dict[str, str] = {
+    _key(SCHOOL_TYPE[code]): key
+    for key, _, codes in TYPE_GROUPS
+    for code in codes
+    if code in SCHOOL_TYPE
+}
+
+_FAITHS_BY_NAME: dict[str, tuple[str, ...]] = {}
+for _faith, _, _codes in FAITH_GROUPS:
+    for _code in sorted(_codes):
+        if _code in RELIGIOUS_CHARACTER:
+            _name = _key(RELIGIOUS_CHARACTER[_code])
+            _FAITHS_BY_NAME[_name] = _FAITHS_BY_NAME.get(_name, ()) + (_faith,)
+
+
+def type_group_for(name: object) -> Optional[str]:
+    """The type group of a GIAS establishment type name, or None."""
+    if not isinstance(name, str):
+        return None
+    return _TYPE_GROUP_BY_NAME.get(_key(name))
+
+
+def faith_groups_for(name: object) -> tuple[str, ...]:
+    """The faith groups of a GIAS religious character name.
+
+    A missing or blank name is "No religious character". A name the
+    dictionary does not know has no faith, so it matches no faith option.
+    """
+    if not isinstance(name, str):
+        return ("none",) if name is None or pd.isna(name) else ()
+    return _FAITHS_BY_NAME.get(_key(name), ())
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Run the tests to see them pass**
+
+Run: `uv run --with-requirements requirements.txt --with pytest --with "httpx==0.27.0" python -m pytest backend/tests/test_school_groups.py -q`
+Expected: all pass.
+
+- [ ] **Step 5: Correct the spec's architecture**
+
+In the spec, replace the `### backend/data_loader.py` subsection with:
+
+```markdown
+### Grouping by name, at filter time
+
+The groups are defined over codes but looked up by the translated name
+(`type_group_for(name)`, `faith_groups_for(name)`), when `/api/schools` and
+`/api/filters` filter. The DataFrame those endpoints read carries names only:
+`translate_gias_code_columns` replaces the codes at load, the legacy-name
+mart fallback never had codes, and the API test fixtures are written in
+names. The names come from the same dictionaries, so the lookup is exact.
+`data_loader.py` is unchanged.
+```
+
+and in `### backend/school_groups.py (new)` replace the `type_group_for(code)` / `faith_groups_for(code)` bullet with `type_group_for(name) -> str | None` and `faith_groups_for(name) -> tuple[str, ...]` (a missing or blank name gives `("none",)`).
+
+- [ ] **Step 6: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add backend/school_groups.py backend/tests/test_school_groups.py docs/superpowers/specs/2026-10-02-school-type-groups-and-faith-filter-design.md
+git commit -m "feat(api): group GIAS school types and religions for parents"
+```
+
+---
+
+### Task 2: The API filters
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `backend/app.py` (imports near line 43; `get_schools` params ~738-747, sanitising ~755-759, secondary filters ~782-786, `school_type` filter ~886-889; `get_filter_options` ~1155-1180)
+- Test: `backend/tests/test_type_and_faith_filters.py`
+
+**Interfaces:**
+- Consumes: from Task 1, `TYPE_GROUPS`, `FAITH_GROUPS`, `TYPE_GROUP_KEYS`, `FAITH_KEYS`, `type_group_for`, `faith_groups_for`.
+- Produces:
+  - `GET /api/schools?school_type=<group key | raw label>&faith=<faith key>`
+  - `GET /api/filters` adds `"school_type_groups": [{"value": str, "label": str}]` and `"faiths": [{"value": str, "label": str}]`, in group order, groups with no school left out.
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Write the failing tests**
+
+Create `backend/tests/test_type_and_faith_filters.py`:
+
+```python
+"""/api/schools school-type groups and faith filter, and their /api/filters lists."""
+
+import numpy as np
+import pandas as pd
+import pytest
+from fastapi.testclient import TestClient
+
+# urn -> (GIAS school type, GIAS religious character)
+SCHOOLS = {
+    100001: ("Community school", "Does not apply"),
+    100002: ("Voluntary aided school", "Roman Catholic"),
+    100003: ("Academy converter", "Roman Catholic/Church of England"),
+    100004: ("Community special school", None),
+    100005: ("Academy special converter", "Church of England"),
+    100006: ("Other independent school", "Jewish"),
+    100007: ("Miscellaneous", ""),
+}
+
+
+def _schools_df() -> pd.DataFrame:
+    base = {
+        "local_authority": "Testshire", "address": "1 Test Street", "town": "Testtown",
+        "postcode": "TS1 1AA", "age_range": "4-11", "has_sixth_form": None,
+        "gender": "Mixed", "admissions_policy": None, "ofsted_grade": np.nan,
+        "ofsted_date": None, "ofsted_framework": None, "latitude": 51.5,
+        "longitude": -0.1, "year": 202425, "total_pupils": 300,
+        "rwm_expected_pct": np.nan, "attainment_8_score": np.nan, "phase": "Primary",
+    }
+    return pd.DataFrame([
+        {**base, "urn": urn, "school_name": f"School {urn}",
+         "school_type": t, "religious_denomination": r}
+        for urn, (t, r) in SCHOOLS.items()
+    ])
+
+
+@pytest.fixture()
+def client(monkeypatch):
+    from backend import app as app_module
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(app_module, "load_latest_school_data", _schools_df)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(app_module, "load_school_data", _schools_df)
+    return TestClient(app_module.app, raise_server_exceptions=False)
+
+
+def _urns(client, **params):
+    resp = client.get("/api/schools", params={"page_size": 50, **params})
+    assert resp.status_code == 200, resp.text
+    return sorted(s["urn"] for s in resp.json()["schools"])
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("key, urns", [
+    ("council", [100001, 100002]),
+    ("academy", [100003]),
+    ("special", [100004, 100005]),
+    ("independent", [100006]),
+    ("Special", [100004, 100005]),
+])
+def test_a_type_group_key_filters_to_its_group(client, key, urns):
+    assert _urns(client, school_type=key) == urns
+
+
+def test_a_raw_type_label_still_filters_exactly(client):
+    assert _urns(client, school_type="Community school") == [100001]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("key, urns", [
+    ("roman_catholic", [100002, 100003]),
+    ("church_of_england", [100003, 100005]),
+    ("none", [100001, 100004, 100007]),
+    ("jewish", [100006]),
+    ("Roman_Catholic", [100002, 100003]),
+])
+def test_faith_filters_to_its_group_joint_schools_included(client, key, urns):
+    assert _urns(client, faith=key) == urns
+
+
+def test_an_unknown_faith_returns_nothing(client):
+    assert _urns(client, faith="nonsense") == []
+
+
+def test_type_and_faith_combine(client):
+    assert _urns(client, school_type="special", faith="church_of_england") == [100005]
+
+
+def test_filters_lists_only_groups_present_in_order(client):
+    body = client.get("/api/filters").json()
+    assert body["school_type_groups"] == [
+        {"value": "academy", "label": "State school: academy or free school"},
+        {"value": "council", "label": "State school: council-run"},
+        {"value": "independent", "label": "Independent (fee-paying)"},
+        {"value": "special", "label": "Special school (SEND)"},
+    ]
+    assert body["faiths"] == [
+        {"value": "none", "label": "No religious character"},
+        {"value": "church_of_england", "label": "Church of England"},
+        {"value": "roman_catholic", "label": "Roman Catholic"},
+        {"value": "jewish", "label": "Jewish"},
+    ]
+    # The raw list is still there for anything that reads it.
+    assert "Community school" in body["school_types"]
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Run them to see them fail**
+
+Run: `uv run --with-requirements requirements.txt --with pytest --with "httpx==0.27.0" python -m pytest backend/tests/test_type_and_faith_filters.py -q`
+Expected: the group-key, faith and `/api/filters` tests fail (`KeyError: 'school_type_groups'`, empty URN lists); `test_a_raw_type_label_still_filters_exactly` passes.
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Implement**
+
+In `backend/app.py`, add beside the other local imports (after the `from .schemas import ...` line):
+
+```python
+from .school_groups import (
+    FAITH_GROUPS,
+    FAITH_KEYS,
+    TYPE_GROUP_KEYS,
+    TYPE_GROUPS,
+    faith_groups_for,
+    type_group_for,
+)
+```
+
+Add a helper just above `def sanitize_search_input`:
+
+```python
+def _names_in_group(names: pd.Series, in_group) -> set:
+    """The distinct names in a column that a group predicate accepts.
+
+    Evaluated once per distinct name rather than per row, so a filter over
+    every school costs a few dozen lookups.
+    """
+    return {n for n in names.dropna().unique() if in_group(n)}
+```
+
+In `get_schools`, add the parameter after `has_sixth_form`:
+
+```python
+    faith: Optional[str] = Query(None, description="Filter by faith group key", max_length=40),
+```
+
+and after `phase = sanitize_search_input(phase)`:
+
+```python
+    faith = sanitize_search_input(faith)
+```
+
+After the `has_sixth_form` filter block (the one ending `df_latest = df_latest[flag if has_sixth_form == "yes" else ~flag]`), add:
+
+```python
+    # Faith group (backend/school_groups.py). A joint school is in every faith
+    # its label names; a missing religious character is "none". An unknown key
+    # matches nothing rather than being ignored, so a typo cannot show all.
+    if faith:
+        faith_key = faith.lower()
+        if faith_key in FAITH_KEYS and "religious_denomination" in df_latest.columns:
+            column = df_latest["religious_denomination"]
+            matches = column.isin(_names_in_group(column, lambda n: faith_key in faith_groups_for(n)))
+            # _names_in_group skips missing names; a missing religious
+            # character is "No religious character".
+            if faith_key == "none":
+                matches = matches | column.isna()
+            df_latest = df_latest[matches]
+        else:
+            df_latest = df_latest.iloc[0:0]
+```
+
+Replace the existing `school_type` filter:
+
+```python
+    if school_type:
+        schools_df = schools_df[
+            schools_df["school_type"].str.lower() == school_type.lower()
+        ]
+```
+
+with:
+
+```python
+    # A type group key (backend/school_groups.py), or for an old link a raw
+    # GIAS type label, matched exactly as before.
+    if school_type:
+        type_key = school_type.lower()
+        if type_key in TYPE_GROUP_KEYS:
+            column = schools_df["school_type"]
+            schools_df = schools_df[
+                column.isin(_names_in_group(column, lambda n: type_group_for(n) == type_key))
+            ]
+        else:
+            schools_df = schools_df[schools_df["school_type"].str.lower() == type_key]
+```
+
+In `get_filter_options`, add to the early `if df.empty:` return dict:
+
+```python
+            "school_type_groups": [],
+            "faiths": [],
+```
+
+and before the final `return {`:
+
+```python
+    def offered(groups, present):
+        return [{"value": key, "label": label} for key, label, _ in groups if key in present]
+
+    type_groups_present = (
+        {type_group_for(n) for n in df["school_type"].dropna().unique()} - {None}
+        if "school_type" in df.columns else set()
+    )
+    faiths_present = (
+        {f for n in df["religious_denomination"].unique() for f in faith_groups_for(n)}
+        if "religious_denomination" in df.columns else set()
+    )
+```
+
+and add to the returned dict:
+
+```python
+        "school_type_groups": offered(TYPE_GROUPS, type_groups_present),
+        "faiths": offered(FAITH_GROUPS, faiths_present),
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Run the new tests, then the whole backend suite**
+
+Run: `uv run --with-requirements requirements.txt --with pytest --with "httpx==0.27.0" python -m pytest backend/tests/test_type_and_faith_filters.py -q`
+Expected: all pass.
+
+Run: `uv run --with-requirements requirements.txt --with pytest --with "httpx==0.27.0" python -m pytest backend/tests pipeline/tests scripts/ci/tests -q`
+Expected: all pass (the CI command; `pyyaml` comes from requirements or add `--with pyyaml` if collection fails on `import yaml`).
+
+- [ ] **Step 5: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add backend/app.py backend/tests/test_type_and_faith_filters.py
+git commit -m "feat(api): filter schools by type group and by faith"
+```
+
+---
+
+### Task 3: The frontend filters
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `nextjs-app/lib/types.ts` (`Filters` ~487-494, `SchoolSearchParams` ~558-570)
+- Modify: `nextjs-app/app/(frontend)/page.tsx` (props type ~15-29, `hasSearchParams` ~79-88, `fetchSchools` call ~96-109)
+- Modify: `nextjs-app/components/FilterBar.tsx`
+- Test: `nextjs-app/__tests__/components/FilterBarTypeFaith.test.tsx` (new)
+- Modify tests: `__tests__/components/ResultsToolbar.test.tsx`, `FilterSheet.test.tsx`, `FilterSheetPending.test.tsx`, `FilterBarOptions.test.tsx`
+
+**Interfaces:**
+- Consumes: `/api/filters` keys `school_type_groups`, `faiths` (Task 2); URL params `school_type` (group key) and `faith`.
+- Produces: `export interface FilterOption { value: string; label: string }`; `Filters.school_type_groups?: FilterOption[]`; `Filters.faiths?: FilterOption[]`; `SchoolSearchParams.faith?: string`. FilterBar selects named "School type" and "Faith".
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Write the failing tests**
+
+Create `nextjs-app/__tests__/components/FilterBarTypeFaith.test.tsx`:
+
+```tsx
+import { fireEvent, render, screen, within } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { FilterBar } from '@/components/FilterBar';
+import { track } from '@/lib/analytics';
+
+/*
+ * School type offers six groups a parent recognises, not GIAS's 34 types, and
+ * a Faith filter sits beside it (spec 2026-10-02-school-type-groups-and-faith-
+ * filter-design.md). Both lists come from /api/filters.
+ */
+
+let params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1');
+const push = jest.fn();
+jest.mock('next/navigation', () => ({
+  useSearchParams: () => params,
+  usePathname: () => '/',
+  useRouter: () => ({ push, replace: jest.fn(), prefetch: jest.fn() }),
+}));
+jest.mock('@/lib/analytics', () => ({ track: jest.fn() }));
+
+const filters = {
+  local_authorities: ['Wandsworth'], school_types: ['Community school'], years: [],
+  phases: ['Primary', 'Secondary'], genders: [], admissions_policies: [],
+  school_type_groups: [
+    { value: 'academy', label: 'State school: academy or free school' },
+    { value: 'council', label: 'State school: council-run' },
+    { value: 'special', label: 'Special school (SEND)' },
+  ],
+  faiths: [
+    { value: 'none', label: 'No religious character' },
+    { value: 'roman_catholic', label: 'Roman Catholic' },
+  ],
+};
+
+const pushedParams = () => new URLSearchParams(push.mock.calls.at(-1)![0].split('?')[1]);
+const openSheet = () => {
+  fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /^Filters/ }));
+  return screen.getByRole('dialog', { name: 'Filters' });
+};
+const optionsOf = (scope: HTMLElement, name: string) =>
+  within(within(scope).getByRole('combobox', { name })).getAllByRole('option').map((o) => o.textContent);
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1');
+  push.mockClear();
+  jest.mocked(track).mockClear();
+});
+
+describe('School type', () => {
+  it('offers the groups, not the GIAS types, on desktop and in the sheet', () => {
+    render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    const groups = ['Any school type', 'State school: academy or free school',
+      'State school: council-run', 'Special school (SEND)'];
+    expect(optionsOf(screen.getByRole('group', { name: 'Filters' }), 'School type')).toEqual(groups);
+    expect(optionsOf(openSheet(), 'School type')).toEqual(groups);
+  });
+
+  it('puts the group key in the URL and names the chip by its label', () => {
+    const view = render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    fireEvent.change(within(openSheet()).getByRole('combobox', { name: 'School type' }),
+      { target: { value: 'special' } });
+    expect(pushedParams().get('school_type')).toBe('special');
+    params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1&school_type=special');
+    view.rerender(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Remove filter: Special school (SEND)' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('names an old raw-label link\'s chip by that label', () => {
+    params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1&school_type=Community+school');
+    render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Remove filter: Community school' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('is left out when the API sends no groups', () => {
+    render(<FilterBar filters={{ ...filters, school_type_groups: undefined }} />);
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('combobox', { name: 'School type' })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('Faith', () => {
+  it('offers its options in the More filters panel and in the sheet', () => {
+    render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /More filters/ }));
+    const faiths = ['Any faith or none', 'No religious character', 'Roman Catholic'];
+    expect(optionsOf(document.body, 'Faith')).toEqual(faiths);
+    expect(optionsOf(openSheet(), 'Faith')).toEqual(faiths);
+  });
+
+  it('shows as a chip, counts on both buttons, and clears with Clear all', () => {
+    params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1&faith=roman_catholic');
+    render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Remove filter: Roman Catholic' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Filters, 1 applied' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /More filters \(1\)/ })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    fireEvent.click(within(screen.getByRole('group', { name: 'Applied filters' }))
+      .getByRole('button', { name: 'Clear all' }));
+    expect(pushedParams().get('faith')).toBeNull();
+    expect(pushedParams().get('postcode')).toBe('SW196AR');
+  });
+
+  it('goes into the search analytics event', () => {
+    params = new URLSearchParams('faith=roman_catholic');
+    render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    const input = screen.getByRole('searchbox', { name: 'School name or postcode' });
+    fireEvent.change(input, { target: { value: 'st marys' } });
+    fireEvent.submit(input.closest('form')!);
+    expect(track).toHaveBeenCalledWith('search_submitted',
+      expect.objectContaining({ filters_active: 'faith=roman_catholic', filters_count: 1 }));
+  });
+
+  it('is left out when the API sends no faiths', () => {
+    render(<FilterBar filters={{ ...filters, faiths: [] }} />);
+    expect(within(openSheet()).queryByRole('combobox', { name: 'Faith' })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Run them to see them fail**
+
+Run (from `nextjs-app/`): `npx jest __tests__/components/FilterBarTypeFaith.test.tsx`
+Expected: failures; School type still lists `Community school`, no `Faith` combobox. (`tsc` also flags `school_type_groups` on `Filters`, which Step 3 fixes.)
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Types and page plumbing**
+
+In `nextjs-app/lib/types.ts`, above `export interface Filters`:
+
+```ts
+/** A filter option whose URL value differs from what a parent reads. */
+export interface FilterOption {
+  value: string;
+  label: string;
+}
+```
+
+and add to `Filters` (after `admissions_policies`):
+
+```ts
+  /** Parent-facing school type groups; the URL's school_type takes their value. */
+  school_type_groups?: FilterOption[];
+  faiths?: FilterOption[];
+```
+
+and to `SchoolSearchParams` (after `has_sixth_form`):
+
+```ts
+  faith?: string;
+```
+
+In `nextjs-app/app/(frontend)/page.tsx`: add `faith?: string;` to the `searchParams` type after `has_sixth_form?: string;`; add `params.faith ||` to `hasSearchParams` after `params.has_sixth_form`; add `faith: params.faith,` to the `fetchSchools({...})` call after `has_sixth_form: params.has_sixth_form,`.
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: FilterBar**
+
+In `nextjs-app/components/FilterBar.tsx`:
+
+1. Add `"faith"` to `FILTER_KEYS` directly after `"school_type"`.
+2. After `const currentHasSixthForm = ...` add:
+
+```tsx
+  const currentFaith = searchParams.get("faith") || "";
+```
+
+3. Add `currentFaith,` to the `activeDropdownFilters` array (after `currentLA,`). Faith lives behind More filters, so it counts there.
+4. In `handleSearchSubmit`'s `filters_active` list, after the `type=` line add:
+
+```tsx
+      currentFaith && `faith=${currentFaith}`,
+```
+
+5. Add `currentFaith ||` to `hasActiveFilters` after `currentType ||`.
+6. Replace `const typeOptions = filters.school_types;` with:
+
+```tsx
+  // Six groups a parent recognises, not GIAS's 34 establishment types.
+  const typeOptions = filters.school_type_groups ?? [];
+  const faithOptions = filters.faiths ?? [];
+```
+
+7. Add `faith: currentFaith,` to the `values` record after `school_type: currentType,`.
+8. In `labelFor`, before the `// Phase, gender and admissions values…` comment, add:
+
+```tsx
+    // An old link may carry a raw GIAS type, which reads as itself.
+    const labelled = { school_type: typeOptions, faith: faithOptions }[
+      key as "school_type" | "faith"
+    ];
+    if (labelled) return labelled.find((o) => o.value === value)?.label ?? value;
+```
+
+9. In `typeSelect`, replace the options map with:
+
+```tsx
+        {typeOptions.map((o) => (
+          <option key={o.value} value={o.value}>
+            {o.label}
+          </option>
+        ))}
+```
+
+10. After `laSelect`, add:
+
+```tsx
+  const faithSelect = (look: Look) => (
+    <SelectShell wide>
+      <select
+        value={currentFaith}
+        onChange={(e) => handleFilterChange("faith", e.target.value)}
+        className={selectClass(look, currentFaith)}
+        aria-label="Faith"
+        disabled={isPending && look !== "sheet"}
+      >
+        <option value="">Any faith or none</option>
+        {faithOptions.map((o) => (
+          <option key={o.value} value={o.value}>
+            {o.label}
+          </option>
+        ))}
+      </select>
+    </SelectShell>
+  );
+```
+
+11. In the desktop row, change `{typeSelect("pill")}` to `{typeOptions.length > 0 && typeSelect("pill")}`.
+12. In the More filters panel, after `{laSelect("panel")}` add `{faithOptions.length > 0 && faithSelect("panel")}`.
+13. In the sheet, replace `<SheetField label="School type">{typeSelect("sheet")}</SheetField>` with:
+
+```tsx
+            {typeOptions.length > 0 && (
+              <SheetField label="School type">{typeSelect("sheet")}</SheetField>
+            )}
+            {faithOptions.length > 0 && (
+              <SheetField label="Faith">{faithSelect("sheet")}</SheetField>
+            )}
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 5: Move the existing tests' fixtures to groups**
+
+These tests used raw types as values; give each fixture the groups and use keys:
+
+- `ResultsToolbar.test.tsx`: add to `filters` `school_type_groups: [{ value: 'council', label: 'State school: council-run' }],`; in 'counts only what More filters hides' change `school_type=Community+school` to `school_type=council`.
+- `FilterSheet.test.tsx`: add the same `school_type_groups` to `filters`; change both `school_type=Community+school` to `school_type=council`.
+- `FilterSheetPending.test.tsx`: add the same `school_type_groups`; change the `{ target: { value: 'Community school' } }` to `{ target: { value: 'council' } }` and `toBe('Community school')` to `toBe('council')`.
+- `FilterBarOptions.test.tsx`: add to `filters` `school_type_groups: [{ value: 'academy', label: 'State school: academy or free school' }, { value: 'council', label: 'State school: council-run' }],`; change `school_type=Community+school` (two places) to `school_type=council`; change the expected School type options to `['Any school type', 'State school: academy or free school', 'State school: council-run']`; change `toBe('Community school')` to `toBe('council')`; rename the first test to 'offer every school type group, gender and admissions policy, whatever the results hold'; and in the header comment replace "School type, gender and admissions offer the full lists" with "School type groups, gender and admissions offer the full lists".
+
+- [ ] **Step 6: Run the frontend checks**
+
+Run (from `nextjs-app/`): `npx jest` then `npx tsc --noEmit`
+Expected: all suites pass; no type errors.
+
+- [ ] **Step 7: Commit**
+
+```bash
+git add nextjs-app/lib/types.ts "nextjs-app/app/(frontend)/page.tsx" nextjs-app/components/FilterBar.tsx nextjs-app/__tests__/components/FilterBarTypeFaith.test.tsx nextjs-app/__tests__/components/ResultsToolbar.test.tsx nextjs-app/__tests__/components/FilterSheet.test.tsx nextjs-app/__tests__/components/FilterSheetPending.test.tsx nextjs-app/__tests__/components/FilterBarOptions.test.tsx
+git commit -m "feat(search): school type groups and a faith filter"
+```
+
+---
+
+### Task 4: E2E journey, build, PR
+
+**Files:**
+- Modify: `e2e/tests/journeys.spec.ts` (insert before `test('a phase outside primary/secondary filters to that phase, not to everything'`)
+
+**Interfaces:**
+- Consumes: the "School type" and "Faith" selects (Task 3); `/api/schools?school_type=&faith=` (Task 2).
+
+- [ ] **Step 1: Add the journey**
+
+```ts
+/*
+ * School type offers six groups a parent recognises, and Faith sits beside it.
+ * Data-invariant: asserts what every returned school is, never how many.
+ */
+test('school type groups and the faith filter narrow to what they name', async ({ page }) => {
+  await page.goto('/?search=school');
+  const type = page.getByRole('combobox', { name: 'School type', exact: true });
+  await expect(type).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 });
+  await type.selectOption({ label: 'Special school (SEND)' });
+  await expect(page).toHaveURL(/[?&]school_type=special(&|$)/);
+
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: /^More filters/ }).click();
+  await page.getByRole('combobox', { name: 'Faith', exact: true }).selectOption({ label: 'Roman Catholic' });
+  await expect(page).toHaveURL(/[?&]faith=roman_catholic(&|$)/);
+
+  const res = await page.request.get(
+    '/api/schools?search=school&school_type=special&faith=roman_catholic&page_size=100');
+  expect(res.ok()).toBeTruthy();
+  for (const s of (await res.json()).schools as { school_type: string; religious_denomination: string }[]) {
+    expect(s.school_type).toMatch(/special/i);
+    expect(s.religious_denomination).toMatch(/catholic/i);
+  }
+});
+```
+
+- [ ] **Step 2: Confirm it parses, and fails on today's staging**
+
+Run (from `e2e/`): `npx playwright test --list | grep "school type groups"`
+Expected: the test is listed.
+
+Run: `BASE_URL=https://stx.schoolcompare.co.uk npx playwright test -g "school type groups" --retries=0 --reporter=line`
+Expected: FAIL at `selectOption({ label: 'Special school (SEND)' })`, because staging still offers the raw types. It can only pass after merge (the staging E2E gate runs post-merge).
+
+- [ ] **Step 3: Build without a database**
+
+Run (from `nextjs-app/`): `env -u DATABASE_URL npm run build`
+Expected: build completes.
+
+- [ ] **Step 4: Commit, push, open the PR**
+
+```bash
+git add e2e/tests/journeys.spec.ts
+git commit -m "test(e2e): school type groups and the faith filter"
+git push -u origin feat/school-type-groups-faith
+```
+
+Open the PR on Gitea against `main` (credential-helper basic auth, as for PRs #168/#169), listing: the six groups and seven faiths, the old-link compatibility, the backend-by-name decision, test counts, and that the new journey can only pass post-merge.

docs/superpowers/specs/2026-10-02-school-type-groups-and-faith-filter-design.md

@@ -0,0 +1,233 @@
+# School Type Groups and a Faith Filter — Design
+
+**Date:** 2026-10-02
+**Status:** shipped in PR #170; revised 2026-10-02 (one state group)
+**Scope:** search filters (`/` results toolbar and phone filter sheet), `/api/schools`, `/api/filters`
+
+## Goal
+
+Replace the School type filter's 34 GIAS establishment types with five groups a
+parent recognises, and add a Faith filter.
+
+> **Revision, 2026-10-02.** PR #170 shipped six groups, with state schools
+> split into "academy or free school" and "council-run". They are now one,
+> "State school (free)". The split was two near-halves of the same pool, so it
+> rarely narrowed anything, and it did not follow the difference a parent feels
+> most, admissions: voluntary aided and foundation schools set their own
+> admissions, as academies do, while community and voluntary controlled
+> schools have theirs set by the council. Faith, which voluntary aided mostly
+> meant, has its own filter. The old keys `academy` and `council` resolve to
+> `state`, so their links keep working.
+
+Since PR #169 the School type select offers the full GIAS list rather than the
+types in the results. That fixed the trap where choosing a type left only that
+type on offer, but it exposed the list itself: "Academy converter", "Academy
+sponsor led", "Free schools", "Foundation school", "Voluntary controlled
+school" and 29 more. These describe governance and funding. For a mainstream
+state school they change almost nothing a parent experiences, and parents
+cannot be expected to know the differences.
+
+What parents actually ask is: is it free, is it mainstream, is it for children
+with special needs, is it a sixth form or college, and is it a faith school.
+The first four are the type groups below. The fifth is the real meaning behind
+"Voluntary aided" and "Voluntary controlled", but many academies are faith
+schools too, so it gets its own filter rather than hiding inside type.
+
+## Non-goals
+
+- Changing what a school page or result row shows. They keep the precise GIAS
+  type ("Academy sponsor led"), where it is information, not a choice.
+- Removing the "not offered" types from search results. They stay reachable
+  under "Any school type"; whether parents should see them at all is a
+  separate decision.
+- Reordering the type options by phase (for example "Sixth form or college"
+  first for 16 plus). Fixed order is simpler.
+- The rankings page, which has no type filter.
+- Changing `result_filters`. Its `school_types` key is already unread
+  (docs/LEGACY_CODE.md).
+
+## Type groups
+
+Order is the order shown. Codes are GIAS `TypeOfEstablishment` codes
+(`backend/gias_codes.py: SCHOOL_TYPE`). Counts are staging schools on
+2026-10-02.
+
+| Key | Label | GIAS codes | Schools |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| `state` | State school (free) | 28 Academy sponsor led, 34 Academy converter, 35 Free schools, 40 University technical college, 41 Studio schools, 6 City technology college, 1 Community school, 2 Voluntary aided school, 3 Voluntary controlled school, 5 Foundation school, 15 Local authority nursery school | 20,502 |
+| `independent` | Independent (fee-paying) | 11 Other independent school | 1,585 |
+| `special` | Special school (SEND) | 7 Community special, 12 Foundation special, 44 Academy special converter, 33 Academy special sponsor led, 36 Free schools special, 8 Non-maintained special, 10 Other independent special, 32 Special post 16 institution | 2,227 |
+| `post16` | Sixth form or college | 18 Further education, 31 Sixth form centres, 45 Academy 16-19 converter, 46 Academy 16 to 19 sponsor led, 39 Free schools 16 to 19 | 302 |
+| `alternative` | Alternative provision | 14 Pupil referral unit, 42 Academy AP converter, 43 Academy AP sponsor led, 38 Free schools AP | 331 |
+
+**Not offered** (no group, reachable only under "Any school type"): 29 Higher
+education institutions, 27 Miscellaneous, 24 Secure units, 49 Online provider,
+57 Academy secure 16 to 19, 56 Institution funded by other government
+department. 238 schools.
+
+**Excluded upstream** (never in the marts): 25, 26, 30, 37, per
+`non_england_school_type_codes` in `pipeline/transform/dbt_project.yml`.
+
+### Judgement calls
+
+- **Independent special schools are Special, not Independent.** They are
+  usually funded by the local authority through a child's EHCP; to a parent
+  they are SEND provision, not private school.
+- **UTCs, studio schools and city technology colleges are state schools.** They
+  are legally academies, they are few (66 together), and a family considering
+  one searches for it by name.
+- **Academies and council-run schools are one group.** See the revision note
+  under Goal.
+- **Special post 16 institutions are Special, not Sixth form or college.** The
+  defining fact for a parent is the SEND provision.
+- **Alternative provision is last.** Parents do not apply to it; the local
+  authority places children there.
+
+## Faith groups
+
+Codes are GIAS `ReligiousCharacter` codes
+(`backend/gias_codes.py: RELIGIOUS_CHARACTER`). A joint school belongs to every
+faith its label names, so "Roman Catholic/Church of England" matches both
+Church of England and Roman Catholic. A generic "Christian" alongside a named
+denomination adds nothing ("Church of England/Christian" is Church of England
+only).
+
+| Key | Label | GIAS codes |
+|---|---|---|
+| `none` | No religious character | 0 Does not apply, 6 None, 99 (blank), and a missing code |
+| `church_of_england` | Church of England | 2, 31 Anglican, 34 Anglican/Church of England, 20 CofE/Christian, 32 Anglican/Christian, and the joint codes 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 19, 30, 33, 41, 48 |
+| `roman_catholic` | Roman Catholic | 3, 35 Catholic, and the joint codes 11, 13, 48 |
+| `other_christian` | Other Christian | 4 Methodist, 8 Seventh Day Adventist, 14 Quaker, 15 Christian, 16 United Reformed Church, 17 Congregational Church, 18 Free Church, 22 Greek Orthodox, 26 Moravian, 28 Inter- / non- denominational, 37 Christian/Evangelical, 38 Christian Science, 39 Christian/Methodist, 40 Christian/non-denominational, 44 Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, 45 Protestant, 46 Protestant/Evangelical, 47 Reformed Baptist, and the joint codes 9, 10, 12, 19, 30, 33, 41 |
+| `jewish` | Jewish | 5 Jewish, 36 Charadi Jewish, 43 Orthodox Jewish |
+| `muslim` | Muslim | 7 Muslim, 42 Islam, 49 Sunni Deobandi |
+| `other_faith` | Other faith | 21 Sikh, 24 Buddhist, 25 Hindu, 29 Multi-faith |
+
+The joint codes: 9 CofE/Methodist, 10 Methodist/CofE, 11 CofE/RC, 12 CofE/URC,
+13 RC/CofE, 19 CofE/Free Church, 30 CofE/Methodist/URC/Baptist,
+33 Anglican/Evangelical, 41 CofE/Evangelical, 48 RC/Anglican.
+
+28 "Inter- / non- denominational" is filed as Other Christian: GIAS uses it for
+Christian schools that are not tied to one church.
+
+## Architecture
+
+Grouping lives in the backend, not dbt. The API already translates GIAS codes
+to names when it loads the marts (`backend/data_loader.py:
+translate_gias_code_columns`), and every filter is applied to that DataFrame.
+Grouping there needs no mart change, so there is no Airflow run between merge
+and staging showing it.
+
+### `backend/school_groups.py` (new)
+
+- `TYPE_GROUPS`: ordered `(key, label, frozenset[int])` per type group.
+- `UNOFFERED_TYPE_CODES`: the not-offered codes, so that "every code is
+  accounted for" is testable.
+- `FAITH_GROUPS`: ordered `(key, label, frozenset[int])` per faith group.
+- `type_group_for(name) -> str | None` and
+  `faith_groups_for(name) -> tuple[str, ...]` (a missing or blank name gives
+  `("none",)`).
+
+No dependence on the generated GIAS dictionaries beyond their codes, so the
+backend/pipeline dictionary parity test is untouched.
+
+### Grouping by name, at filter time
+
+The groups are defined over codes but looked up by the translated name
+(`type_group_for(name)`, `faith_groups_for(name)`), when `/api/schools` and
+`/api/filters` filter. The DataFrame those endpoints read carries names only:
+`translate_gias_code_columns` replaces the codes at load, the legacy-name
+mart fallback never had codes, and the API test fixtures are written in
+names. The names come from the same dictionaries, so the lookup is exact.
+`data_loader.py` is unchanged.
+
+### `/api/schools`
+
+Both filters work on the name columns at request time. `_names_in_group`
+collects the distinct `school_type` or `religious_denomination` names the
+group accepts, once per distinct name rather than per row, and the rows are
+kept with `isin`. No group column is stored.
+
+- `school_type`: if the value is a type group key (any case), keep the rows
+  whose `school_type` name `type_group_for` puts in that group. Otherwise
+  filter on the raw label exactly as today, so an old
+  `?school_type=Community+school` link keeps working.
+- `faith` (new, optional, `max_length=40`, sanitised like the others): keep the
+  rows whose `religious_denomination` name `faith_groups_for` puts in that
+  faith (any case); for `none`, rows with a missing name too. An unknown key
+  returns no schools rather than being ignored, so a typo does not silently
+  show everything.
+
+### `/api/filters`
+
+Two new keys:
+
+- `school_type_groups`: `[{value, label}]` in `TYPE_GROUPS` order, only groups
+  with at least one school.
+- `faiths`: `[{value, label}]` in `FAITH_GROUPS` order, same rule.
+
+`school_types` stays as it is (the raw list), so nothing that reads it breaks.
+
+### Frontend
+
+- `lib/types.ts`: `Filters` gains optional `school_type_groups` and `faiths`
+  (`{ value: string; label: string }[]`). Optional, so the empty fallbacks in
+  `app/(frontend)/page.tsx` and `rankings/page.tsx` stay valid.
+- `app/(frontend)/page.tsx`: reads `faith` from the search params, counts it
+  in `hasSearchParams`, and passes it to `fetchSchools`. `SchoolSearchParams`
+  in `lib/types.ts` gains `faith`. HomeView's load-more already forwards every
+  URL param. HomeView's `isSearchActive` is left as it is: like phase and
+  gender, faith narrows a search rather than starting one.
+- `components/FilterBar.tsx`:
+  - The School type select's options become `filters.school_type_groups`;
+    "Any school type" stays first. With no groups (the API failed), the select
+    is left out, as Gender and Admissions already are.
+  - A new **Faith** select (`aria-label="Faith"`, "Any faith or none" first)
+    from `filters.faiths`. On desktop it goes in the More filters panel, after
+    Local authority. In the phone sheet it comes after School type.
+  - `faith` joins `FILTER_KEYS` (chip and Filters count) and the More filters
+    count, and `faith=` joins `filters_active` in the `search_submitted`
+    analytics event.
+  - Chip labels come from the option lists: "Special school (SEND)",
+    "Roman Catholic". An old raw-label `school_type` shows its raw label.
+- `lib/utils.ts: isSpecialSchool` is unchanged. It reads a school's raw
+  `school_type`, which still arrives.
+
+## Testing
+
+**Backend (pytest):**
+
+- Every `SCHOOL_TYPE` code is in exactly one type group, in
+  `UNOFFERED_TYPE_CODES`, or in `non_england_school_type_codes`. A new DfE
+  code fails this test instead of silently vanishing from the filter.
+- Every `RELIGIOUS_CHARACTER` code maps to at least one faith group.
+- The joint codes map to each faith they name (11 and 48 → CofE and RC;
+  9 → CofE and Other Christian) and 20 → CofE only.
+- `/api/schools?school_type=special` returns only special-group schools;
+  `?school_type=Community+school` still filters by label.
+- `/api/schools?faith=roman_catholic` returns only matching schools, a joint
+  school included; `?faith=nonsense` returns none.
+- `/api/filters` lists the groups in order and leaves out an empty one.
+- Run via uv, as the backend tests always are.
+
+**Frontend (Jest):**
+
+- School type offers the six group labels, not raw types.
+- Faith offers its options, in the panel and in the sheet.
+- A faith filter shows as a chip, counts on Filters and More filters, and
+  clears with Clear all.
+- No groups or faiths in `filters` → the select is left out.
+
+**E2E (`e2e/tests/journeys.spec.ts`):**
+
+- A journey that picks "Special school (SEND)" and "Roman Catholic" from the
+  selects, then checks through `/api/schools` with the same params that every
+  returned school's `school_type` is a special type and its
+  `religious_denomination` names Catholic. Data-invariant: it asserts the
+  property, not a count.
+- It can only pass after merge; the staging E2E gate runs post-merge.
+
+## Rollout
+
+One PR; backend and frontend deploy together on merge. The frontend tolerates
+an API without the new keys (the selects are left out), so the order the
+containers update in does not matter.

e2e/tests/journeys.spec.ts

@@ -305,6 +305,30 @@ test('school type and gender switch straight to another value', async ({ page })
   await expect.poll(() => type.locator('option').allTextContents()).toEqual(offered);
 });
 
+/*
+ * School type offers six groups a parent recognises, and Faith sits beside it.
+ * Data-invariant: asserts what every returned school is, never how many.
+ */
+test('school type groups and the faith filter narrow to what they name', async ({ page }) => {
+  await page.goto('/?search=school');
+  const type = page.getByRole('combobox', { name: 'School type', exact: true });
+  await expect(type).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15_000 });
+  await type.selectOption({ label: 'Special school (SEND)' });
+  await expect(page).toHaveURL(/[?&]school_type=special(&|$)/);
+
+  await page.getByRole('button', { name: /^More filters/ }).click();
+  await page.getByRole('combobox', { name: 'Faith', exact: true }).selectOption({ label: 'Roman Catholic' });
+  await expect(page).toHaveURL(/[?&]faith=roman_catholic(&|$)/);
+
+  const res = await page.request.get(
+    '/api/schools?search=school&school_type=special&faith=roman_catholic&page_size=100');
+  expect(res.ok()).toBeTruthy();
+  for (const s of (await res.json()).schools as { school_type: string; religious_denomination: string }[]) {
+    expect(s.school_type).toMatch(/special/i);
+    expect(s.religious_denomination).toMatch(/catholic/i);
+  }
+});
+
 test('a phase outside primary/secondary filters to that phase, not to everything', async ({ page }) => {
   // The search page offers every GIAS phase, but the API only knew the grouped
   // ones and silently dropped the rest — so "Nursery" returned primaries.

nextjs-app/__tests__/components/FilterBarOptions.test.tsx

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import type { ResultFilters } from '@/lib/types';
 /*
  * A filter's options must not come from the results it is filtering, or
  * choosing one leaves only that one on offer: pick "Girls" and "Boys" is gone
- * until the filter is cleared. School type, gender and admissions offer the
+ * until the filter is cleared. School type groups, gender and admissions offer the
  * full lists, as phase already did. Local authority stays scoped to the
  * results, so a postcode search offers the councils nearby rather than 153.
  *
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ const filters = {
   phases: ['Middle deemed primary', 'Nursery', 'Primary', 'Secondary', 'All-through'],
   genders: ['Boys', 'Girls', 'Mixed'],
   admissions_policies: ['Non-selective', 'Selective'],
+  school_type_groups: [
+    { value: 'academy', label: 'State school: academy or free school' },
+    { value: 'council', label: 'State school: council-run' },
+  ],
 };
 
 // What the results came back with once narrowed by the chosen filters.
@@ -54,11 +58,11 @@ beforeEach(() => {
 });
 
 describe('filter options', () => {
-  it('offer every school type, gender and admissions policy, whatever the results hold', () => {
-    params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1&school_type=Community+school&gender=girls');
+  it('offer every school type group, gender and admissions policy, whatever the results hold', () => {
+    params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1&school_type=council&gender=girls');
     render(<FilterBar filters={filters} resultFilters={narrowed} />);
     const sheet = openSheet();
-    expect(optionsOf(sheet, 'School type')).toEqual(['Any school type', 'Academy converter', 'Community school']);
+    expect(optionsOf(sheet, 'School type')).toEqual(['Any school type', 'State school: academy or free school', 'State school: council-run']);
     expect(optionsOf(sheet, 'Gender')).toEqual(['Boys, Girls & Mixed', 'Boys', 'Girls', 'Mixed']);
     expect(optionsOf(sheet, 'Admissions')).toEqual(['All admissions types', 'Non-selective', 'Selective']);
   });
@@ -107,13 +111,13 @@ describe('the secondary-only filters', () => {
 
   it('are cleared by choosing a primary phase, rather than left applied and hidden', () => {
     params = new URLSearchParams(
-      'postcode=SW196AR&radius=1&phase=secondary&gender=girls&has_sixth_form=yes&admissions_policy=selective&school_type=Community+school');
+      'postcode=SW196AR&radius=1&phase=secondary&gender=girls&has_sixth_form=yes&admissions_policy=selective&school_type=council');
     render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
     fireEvent.change(within(openSheet()).getByRole('combobox', { name: 'Phase' }), { target: { value: 'primary' } });
     const next = pushedParams();
     expect(next.get('phase')).toBe('primary');
     for (const key of ['gender', 'has_sixth_form', 'admissions_policy']) expect(next.get(key)).toBeNull();
-    expect(next.get('school_type')).toBe('Community school');
+    expect(next.get('school_type')).toBe('council');
   });
 
   it('are kept when the new phase still has them', () => {

nextjs-app/__tests__/components/FilterBarTypeFaith.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+import { fireEvent, render, screen, within } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { FilterBar } from '@/components/FilterBar';
+import { track } from '@/lib/analytics';
+
+/*
+ * School type offers six groups a parent recognises, not GIAS's 34 types, and
+ * a Faith filter sits beside it (spec 2026-10-02-school-type-groups-and-faith-
+ * filter-design.md). Both lists come from /api/filters.
+ */
+
+let params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1');
+const push = jest.fn();
+jest.mock('next/navigation', () => ({
+  useSearchParams: () => params,
+  usePathname: () => '/',
+  useRouter: () => ({ push, replace: jest.fn(), prefetch: jest.fn() }),
+}));
+jest.mock('@/lib/analytics', () => ({ track: jest.fn() }));
+
+const filters = {
+  local_authorities: ['Wandsworth'], school_types: ['Community school'], years: [],
+  phases: ['Primary', 'Secondary'], genders: [], admissions_policies: [],
+  school_type_groups: [
+    { value: 'academy', label: 'State school: academy or free school' },
+    { value: 'council', label: 'State school: council-run' },
+    { value: 'special', label: 'Special school (SEND)' },
+  ],
+  faiths: [
+    { value: 'none', label: 'No religious character' },
+    { value: 'roman_catholic', label: 'Roman Catholic' },
+  ],
+};
+
+const pushedParams = () => new URLSearchParams(push.mock.calls.at(-1)![0].split('?')[1]);
+const openSheet = () => {
+  fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /^Filters/ }));
+  return screen.getByRole('dialog', { name: 'Filters' });
+};
+const optionsOf = (scope: HTMLElement, name: string) =>
+  within(within(scope).getByRole('combobox', { name })).getAllByRole('option').map((o) => o.textContent);
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1');
+  push.mockClear();
+  jest.mocked(track).mockClear();
+});
+
+describe('School type', () => {
+  it('offers the groups, not the GIAS types, on desktop and in the sheet', () => {
+    render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    const groups = ['Any school type', 'State school: academy or free school',
+      'State school: council-run', 'Special school (SEND)'];
+    expect(optionsOf(screen.getByRole('group', { name: 'Filters' }), 'School type')).toEqual(groups);
+    expect(optionsOf(openSheet(), 'School type')).toEqual(groups);
+  });
+
+  it('puts the group key in the URL and names the chip by its label', () => {
+    const view = render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    fireEvent.change(within(openSheet()).getByRole('combobox', { name: 'School type' }),
+      { target: { value: 'special' } });
+    expect(pushedParams().get('school_type')).toBe('special');
+    params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1&school_type=special');
+    view.rerender(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Remove filter: Special school (SEND)' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('names an old raw-label link\'s chip by that label', () => {
+    params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1&school_type=Community+school');
+    render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Remove filter: Community school' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('is left out when the API sends no groups', () => {
+    render(<FilterBar filters={{ ...filters, school_type_groups: undefined }} />);
+    expect(screen.queryByRole('combobox', { name: 'School type' })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('Faith', () => {
+  it('offers its options in the More filters panel and in the sheet', () => {
+    render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /More filters/ }));
+    const faiths = ['Any faith or none', 'No religious character', 'Roman Catholic'];
+    expect(optionsOf(document.body, 'Faith')).toEqual(faiths);
+    expect(optionsOf(openSheet(), 'Faith')).toEqual(faiths);
+  });
+
+  it('shows as a chip, counts on both buttons, and clears with Clear all', () => {
+    params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1&faith=roman_catholic');
+    render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Remove filter: Roman Catholic' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Filters, 1 applied' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /More filters \(1\)/ })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    fireEvent.click(within(screen.getByRole('group', { name: 'Applied filters' }))
+      .getByRole('button', { name: 'Clear all' }));
+    expect(pushedParams().get('faith')).toBeNull();
+    expect(pushedParams().get('postcode')).toBe('SW196AR');
+  });
+
+  it('goes into the search analytics event', () => {
+    params = new URLSearchParams('faith=roman_catholic');
+    render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    const input = screen.getByRole('searchbox', { name: 'School name or postcode' });
+    fireEvent.change(input, { target: { value: 'st marys' } });
+    fireEvent.submit(input.closest('form')!);
+    expect(track).toHaveBeenCalledWith('search_submitted',
+      expect.objectContaining({ filters_active: 'faith=roman_catholic', filters_count: 1 }));
+  });
+
+  it('is left out when the API sends no faiths', () => {
+    render(<FilterBar filters={{ ...filters, faiths: [] }} />);
+    expect(within(openSheet()).queryByRole('combobox', { name: 'Faith' })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
+
+describe('a URL value the options do not spell the same way', () => {
+  const row = () => screen.getByRole('group', { name: 'Filters' });
+
+  it('shows an old raw-label type in the select, and lets "Any" clear it', () => {
+    params = new URLSearchParams('search=school&school_type=Community+school');
+    render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    const type = within(row()).getByRole('combobox', { name: 'School type' });
+    expect(type).toHaveValue('Community school');
+    expect(within(type).getByRole('option', { name: 'Community school' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    fireEvent.change(type, { target: { value: '' } });
+    expect(pushedParams().get('school_type')).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('matches a key in another case, in the select and the chip', () => {
+    params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1&school_type=Special&faith=Roman_Catholic');
+    render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
+    expect(within(row()).getByRole('combobox', { name: 'School type' })).toHaveValue('special');
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Remove filter: Special school (SEND)' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Remove filter: Roman Catholic' })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole('combobox', { name: 'Faith' })).toHaveValue('roman_catholic');
+  });
+});

nextjs-app/__tests__/components/FilterSheet.test.tsx

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ jest.mock('@/lib/analytics', () => ({ track: jest.fn() }));
 const filters = {
   local_authorities: ['Wandsworth', 'Merton'], school_types: ['Community school'], years: [],
   phases: ['Primary', 'Secondary'], genders: ['Girls', 'Mixed'], admissions_policies: [],
+  school_type_groups: [{ value: 'council', label: 'State school: council-run' }],
 };
 
 const pushedParams = () => new URLSearchParams(push.mock.calls.at(-1)![0].split('?')[1]);
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ describe('the phone Filters button', () => {
   });
 
   it('counts every applied filter, phase and type included', () => {
-    params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1&phase=primary&school_type=Community+school');
+    params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1&phase=primary&school_type=council');
     render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
     expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Filters, 2 applied' })).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
@@ -145,7 +146,7 @@ describe('the applied-filter chips', () => {
   });
 
   it('carry a Clear all that keeps the search', () => {
-    params = new URLSearchParams('search=southmead&school_type=Community+school');
+    params = new URLSearchParams('search=southmead&school_type=council');
     render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
     fireEvent.click(within(screen.getByRole('group', { name: 'Applied filters' }))
       .getByRole('button', { name: 'Clear all' }));

nextjs-app/__tests__/components/FilterSheetPending.test.tsx

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ jest.mock('@/lib/analytics', () => ({ track: jest.fn() }));
 const filters = {
   local_authorities: ['Wandsworth'], school_types: ['Community school'], years: [],
   phases: ['Primary', 'Secondary'], genders: [], admissions_policies: [],
+  school_type_groups: [{ value: 'council', label: 'State school: council-run' }],
 };
 
 const pushedParams = () => new URLSearchParams(push.mock.calls.at(-1)![0].split('?')[1]);
@@ -53,10 +54,10 @@ it('builds a second change on the first, not on the URL it has not reached', ()
   const sheet = openSheet();
   fireEvent.change(within(sheet).getByRole('combobox', { name: 'Phase' }), { target: { value: 'primary' } });
   fireEvent.change(within(sheet).getByRole('combobox', { name: 'School type' }),
-    { target: { value: 'Community school' } });
+    { target: { value: 'council' } });
   const next = pushedParams();
   expect(next.get('phase')).toBe('primary');
-  expect(next.get('school_type')).toBe('Community school');
+  expect(next.get('school_type')).toBe('council');
   expect(next.get('postcode')).toBe('SW196AR');
 });
 

nextjs-app/__tests__/components/ResultsToolbar.test.tsx

@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ jest.mock('@/components/SchoolMap', () => ({ SchoolMap: () => <div data-testid="
 const filters = {
   local_authorities: ['Wandsworth'], school_types: ['Community school'], years: [],
   phases: ['Primary', 'Secondary'], genders: [], admissions_policies: [],
+  school_type_groups: [{ value: 'council', label: 'State school: council-run' }],
 };
 
 function results(): SchoolsResponse {
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ describe('the toolbar filters', () => {
   });
 
   it('counts only what More filters hides', () => {
-    params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1&school_type=Community+school&local_authority=Wandsworth');
+    params = new URLSearchParams('postcode=SW196AR&radius=1&school_type=council&local_authority=Wandsworth');
     render(<FilterBar filters={filters} />);
     expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: /More filters \(1\)/ })).toBeInTheDocument();
   });
@@ -165,3 +166,12 @@ describe('the folded search', () => {
     expect(screen.queryByRole('button', { name: /Edit search/ })).not.toBeInTheDocument();
   });
 });
+
+describe('the results list', () => {
+  it('repeats no applied filters above the results; the filter bar shows them', () => {
+    params = new URLSearchParams('search=southmead&school_type=council&local_authority=Wandsworth');
+    const { container } = render(<HomeView initialSchools={results()} filters={filters} />);
+    expect(container.querySelector('[class*="activeFilters"]')).toBeNull();
+    expect(screen.queryByText('Search: southmead')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});

nextjs-app/app/(frontend)/page.tsx

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ interface HomePageProps {
     gender?: string;
     admissions_policy?: string;
     has_sixth_form?: string;
+    faith?: string;
   }>;
 }
 
@@ -84,7 +85,8 @@ export default async function HomePage({ searchParams }: HomePageProps) {
     params.postcode ||
     params.gender ||
     params.admissions_policy ||
-    params.has_sixth_form
+    params.has_sixth_form ||
+    params.faith
   );
 
   // Failures propagate to the retryable error boundary.
@@ -105,6 +107,7 @@ export default async function HomePage({ searchParams }: HomePageProps) {
       gender: params.gender,
       admissions_policy: params.admissions_policy,
       has_sixth_form: params.has_sixth_form,
+      faith: params.faith,
     });
   } else {
     // Empty state by default

nextjs-app/components/FilterBar.tsx

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import { useSchoolSuggest } from "@/hooks/useSchoolSuggest";
 import { SuggestList, suggestOptionId } from "./SuggestList";
 import { FilterSheet, SheetField, RADIUS_OPTIONS, radiusLabel as milesLabel } from "./FilterSheet";
 import type { Suggestion } from "@/lib/suggest";
-import type { Filters, ResultFilters } from "@/lib/types";
+import type { FilterOption, Filters, ResultFilters } from "@/lib/types";
 import styles from "./FilterBar.module.css";
 
 interface FilterBarProps {
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ function SelectShell({
 const FILTER_KEYS = [
   "phase",
   "school_type",
+  "faith",
   "local_authority",
   "gender",
   "has_sixth_form",
@@ -83,6 +84,27 @@ function hasSecondaryFilters(phase: string): boolean {
   return !(p === "nursery" || (p.includes("primary") && !p.includes("secondary")));
 }
 
+/**
+ * The option a URL value names, ignoring case as the API does. An old link's
+ * raw GIAS type names none, and is shown as itself.
+ */
+function optionFor(options: FilterOption[], value: string) {
+  const v = value.toLowerCase();
+  return options.find((o) => o.value.toLowerCase() === v);
+}
+
+/**
+ * A select's value and, when the URL holds something no option spells, an
+ * extra option for it, so the select shows what is applied and "Any" can be
+ * chosen to clear it. Without one, React shows the first option, "Any",
+ * while the list is still filtered, and choosing it changes nothing.
+ */
+function selectedOf(options: FilterOption[], value: string) {
+  if (!value) return { value, unlisted: null };
+  const match = optionFor(options, value);
+  return match ? { value: match.value, unlisted: null } : { value, unlisted: value };
+}
+
 function SlidersIcon() {
   return (
     <svg
@@ -186,12 +208,14 @@ export function FilterBar({
   const currentGender = searchParams.get("gender") || "";
   const currentAdmissionsPolicy = searchParams.get("admissions_policy") || "";
   const currentHasSixthForm = searchParams.get("has_sixth_form") || "";
+  const currentFaith = searchParams.get("faith") || "";
 
   // Count the filters behind "More filters". Search, postcode, distance, phase
   // and school type each have their own control in the toolbar, so they are
   // visible without opening anything and are not counted here.
   const activeDropdownFilters = [
     currentLA,
+    currentFaith,
     currentGender,
     currentAdmissionsPolicy,
     currentHasSixthForm,
@@ -318,6 +342,7 @@ export function FilterBar({
       currentPhase && `phase=${currentPhase}`,
       currentLA && `la=${currentLA}`,
       currentType && `type=${currentType}`,
+      currentFaith && `faith=${currentFaith}`,
       currentGender && `gender=${currentGender}`,
       currentAdmissionsPolicy && `admissions=${currentAdmissionsPolicy}`,
       currentHasSixthForm && `sixth_form=${currentHasSixthForm}`,
@@ -370,6 +395,7 @@ export function FilterBar({
     currentSearch ||
     currentLA ||
     currentType ||
+    currentFaith ||
     currentPhase ||
     currentPostcode ||
     currentGender ||
@@ -387,7 +413,9 @@ export function FilterBar({
    */
   const laOptions =
     resultFilters?.local_authorities ?? filters.local_authorities;
-  const typeOptions = filters.school_types;
+  // Five groups a parent recognises, not GIAS's 34 establishment types.
+  const typeOptions = filters.school_type_groups ?? [];
+  const faithOptions = filters.faiths ?? [];
   const phaseOptions = filters.phases ?? [];
   const genderOptions = filters.genders ?? [];
   const admissionsPolicyOptions = filters.admissions_policies ?? [];
@@ -423,6 +451,7 @@ export function FilterBar({
   const values: Record<FilterKey, string> = {
     phase: currentPhase,
     school_type: currentType,
+    faith: currentFaith,
     local_authority: currentLA,
     gender: currentGender,
     has_sixth_form: currentHasSixthForm,
@@ -432,6 +461,11 @@ export function FilterBar({
     if (key === "has_sixth_form") {
       return value === "yes" ? "With sixth form" : "Without sixth form";
     }
+    // An old link may carry a raw GIAS type, which reads as itself.
+    const labelled = { school_type: typeOptions, faith: faithOptions }[
+      key as "school_type" | "faith"
+    ];
+    if (labelled) return optionFor(labelled, value)?.label ?? value;
     // Phase, gender and admissions values are lowercased option names; the
     // rest are the names themselves.
     const named: Partial<Record<FilterKey, string[]>> = {
@@ -477,19 +511,25 @@ export function FilterBar({
     </SelectShell>
   );
 
+  const typeSelected = selectedOf(typeOptions, currentType);
+  const faithSelected = selectedOf(faithOptions, currentFaith);
+
   const typeSelect = (look: Look) => (
     <SelectShell wide={look !== "pill"}>
       <select
-        value={currentType}
+        value={typeSelected.value}
         onChange={(e) => handleFilterChange("school_type", e.target.value)}
         className={selectClass(look, currentType)}
         aria-label="School type"
         disabled={isPending && look !== "sheet"}
       >
         <option value="">Any school type</option>
-        {typeOptions.map((type) => (
-          <option key={type} value={type}>
-            {type}
+        {typeSelected.unlisted && (
+          <option value={typeSelected.unlisted}>{typeSelected.unlisted}</option>
+        )}
+        {typeOptions.map((o) => (
+          <option key={o.value} value={o.value}>
+            {o.label}
           </option>
         ))}
       </select>
@@ -515,6 +555,28 @@ export function FilterBar({
     </SelectShell>
   );
 
+  const faithSelect = (look: Look) => (
+    <SelectShell wide>
+      <select
+        value={faithSelected.value}
+        onChange={(e) => handleFilterChange("faith", e.target.value)}
+        className={selectClass(look, currentFaith)}
+        aria-label="Faith"
+        disabled={isPending && look !== "sheet"}
+      >
+        <option value="">Any faith or none</option>
+        {faithSelected.unlisted && (
+          <option value={faithSelected.unlisted}>{faithSelected.unlisted}</option>
+        )}
+        {faithOptions.map((o) => (
+          <option key={o.value} value={o.value}>
+            {o.label}
+          </option>
+        ))}
+      </select>
+    </SelectShell>
+  );
+
   const genderSelect = (look: Look) => (
     <SelectShell wide>
       <select
@@ -764,7 +826,7 @@ export function FilterBar({
 
             {phaseOptions.length > 0 && phaseSelect("pill")}
 
-            {typeSelect("pill")}
+            {typeOptions.length > 0 && typeSelect("pill")}
 
             <button
               type="button"
@@ -797,6 +859,7 @@ export function FilterBar({
           {filtersOpen && (
             <div className={styles.filters}>
               {laSelect("panel")}
+              {faithOptions.length > 0 && faithSelect("panel")}
 
               {isSecondaryMode && (
                 <>
@@ -869,7 +932,12 @@ export function FilterBar({
             {phaseOptions.length > 0 && (
               <SheetField label="Phase">{phaseSelect("sheet")}</SheetField>
             )}
-            <SheetField label="School type">{typeSelect("sheet")}</SheetField>
+            {typeOptions.length > 0 && (
+              <SheetField label="School type">{typeSelect("sheet")}</SheetField>
+            )}
+            {faithOptions.length > 0 && (
+              <SheetField label="Faith">{faithSelect("sheet")}</SheetField>
+            )}
             <SheetField label="Local authority">{laSelect("sheet")}</SheetField>
             {isSecondaryMode && (
               <>

nextjs-app/components/HomeView.module.css

@@ -1533,37 +1533,6 @@
   cursor: pointer;
 }
 
-.activeFilters {
-  display: flex;
-  flex-wrap: wrap;
-  gap: 0.5rem;
-  margin-bottom: 1rem;
-}
-
-.filterChip {
-  display: inline-flex;
-  align-items: center;
-  gap: 0.375rem;
-  padding: 0.25rem 0.625rem;
-  background: var(--bg-secondary);
-  border: 1px solid var(--border);
-  border-radius: 999px;
-  font-size: 0.8rem;
-  color: var(--text-secondary);
-}
-
-.chipRemove {
-  color: var(--text-muted);
-  text-decoration: none;
-  font-size: 0.9rem;
-  line-height: 1;
-  transition: color var(--transition, 0.2s ease);
-}
-
-.chipRemove:hover {
-  color: var(--text-primary);
-}
-
 .loadMoreSection {
   display: flex;
   flex-direction: column;

nextjs-app/components/HomeView.tsx

@@ -807,14 +807,6 @@ export function HomeView({ initialSchools, filters, totalSchools, howItWorks, ed
 
         {hasSearch && !isMapView && resultsHeader}
 
-        {isSearchActive && !isMapView && (
-          <div className={styles.activeFilters}>
-            {searchParams.get('search') && <span className={styles.filterChip}>Search: {searchParams.get('search')}<a href="/" className={styles.chipRemove} onClick={e => { e.preventDefault(); }}>×</a></span>}
-            {searchParams.get('local_authority') && <span className={styles.filterChip}>{searchParams.get('local_authority')}</span>}
-            {searchParams.get('school_type') && <span className={styles.filterChip}>{searchParams.get('school_type')}</span>}
-          </div>
-        )}
-
         {initialSchools.schools.length === 0 && isSearchActive ? (
           <EmptyState
             title="No schools found"

nextjs-app/lib/types.ts

@@ -484,6 +484,12 @@ export interface RankingsResponse {
   local_authority?: string;
 }
 
+/** A filter option whose URL value differs from what a parent reads. */
+export interface FilterOption {
+  value: string;
+  label: string;
+}
+
 export interface Filters {
   local_authorities: string[];
   school_types: string[];
@@ -491,6 +497,9 @@ export interface Filters {
   phases: string[];
   genders: string[];
   admissions_policies: string[];
+  /** Parent-facing school type groups; the URL's school_type takes their value. */
+  school_type_groups?: FilterOption[];
+  faiths?: FilterOption[];
 }
 
 export interface NationalAveragesYear {
@@ -567,6 +576,7 @@ export interface SchoolSearchParams {
   gender?: string;
   admissions_policy?: string;
   has_sixth_form?: string;
+  faith?: string;
 }
 
 export interface RankingsParams {