Staffordshire SACRE - The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education
Useful links:
NASACRE: National Association of SACREs
NATRE: National Association of Teachers of RE
AREIAC: Association of RE Inspectors, Advisers and Consultants
Why SACRE?
SACRE stands for Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education. In 1944, when religious education became a compulsory subject on the curriculum, local education authorities (LEAs) were given the power to set up SACREs in order to decide what was taught in RE (also called religious instruction, religious knowledge, scripture or divinity). When the 1988 Education Act confirmed religious education as part of the basic curriculum, it became a duty for every local authority (LA) to appoint a SACRE.
Staffordshire SACRE at work
What is a SACRE?
The SACRE is a legally required and constituted council of people who act as the governing body for religious education within the authority. They meet regularly to monitor the provision and quality of religious education and collective worship within the authority.
Why is SACRE needed?
Religious education is the only compulsory subject in schools which remains locally determined. What is taught is not decided centrally by the DCSF (Department for Children, Schools and Families) or QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority). It is the responsibility of the SACRE to determine what is taught in authority schools and to publish an agreed syllabus. The SACRE also has a duty to monitor RE provision in the authority.
What is an agreed syllabus?
An agreed syllabus specifies what must be taught in religious education within an authority. Once agreed, all schools are required to teach in accordance with the syllabus, with the exception of Voluntary Aided schools and those with a trust deed which specifies otherwise. The syllabus must be reviewed every five years by the SACRE and by an Agreed Syllabus Conference.
Staffordshire's Agreed Syllabus
What are the duties of a SACRE?
SACRE's main duty is to advise the local authority on religious education and collective worship for the schools within its remit.
SACRE should also:
- require the LEA to review its Agreed Syllabus every five years
- consider requests from schools to be released from the requirement to provide collective worship that is wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character (a determination)
- publish an Annual Report of its work
How does SACRE support RE in Staffordshire?
A detailed description of the work of SACRE in Staffordshire can be found in the Annual Report.
Broadly speaking SACRE's work involves:
- giving advice on methods of teaching the Agreed Syllabus including the choice of teaching materials
- advising the LA on the provision of training for teachers
- considering complaints about the provision and delivery of RE and collective worship referred to it by the LA.
Rev. Preb. Michael Metcalf, Chair of Staffordshire's SACRE
Who belongs to SACRE?
The constitution of SACRE is set out in law. There are four committees:
Committee A Representatives of Christian denominations (other than the
Church of England), Representatives from other faiths
Committee B Representatives of the local Church of England Dioceses
Committee C Representatives of Teachers' Associations
Committee D Local County Councillors
The SACRE can also co-opt members to join the Council.
The SACRE in formal mode
Contacts for Staffordshire SACRE:
Helen Phillips, Clerk to SACRE helen.phillips@staffordshire.gov.uk
Heather Farr, Senior LA Advisor heather.farr@staffordshire.gov.uk
Last Modified:
11/03/2010 15:07:27
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