SACRE: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SACRE?

The SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) comprises four committees each with a single vote to use when voting is necessary.  The four committees are made up of:

Committee A - Representatives of Christian denominations other than the Church of England and of other religions 

Committee B - Church of England representatives

Committee C - Representatives of teacher associations 

Committee D - Representatives of the local authority

It is the local authority which appoints members to each of these four groups.  For this purpose it would normally ask for nominations from those religions, Christian denominations and teacher associations it has decided should be represented on the SACRE.

What does the SACRE do?

The main duty of a SACRE is to advise the local education authority on:

• matters of collective worship in community schools
• the religious education given in accordance with the locally agreed syllabus for the subject.  (Although part of the basic curriculum, religious education is not part of the National Curriculum.  Each LEA is required to provide a syllabus for religious education for use in its schools.)

• must consider applications from head teachers who request that their school be released from the legal requirement for collective worship to be wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character.  Such a dispensation is known as a determination
• must publish an annual report of its work
• can require the LEA to organise a review of it agreed syllabus for RE
• can give advice on methods of teaching agreed syllabus RE including the choice of teaching materials
• can advise the LEA on the provision of training for its teachers in relation to RE and collective worship
• can monitor inspection reports on RE, collective worship and the provision made by schools for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development (SMSC)
• should consider any complaints about RE and collective worship referred to it by the LEA

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What has Windsor and Maidenhead's SACRE done?

• Recommended a review of the locally agreed syllabus for RE (2000)
• Initiated a consultation with schools and other interested parties about the syllabus review
• Published and launched the new syllabus
• Monitors RE, collective worship and the provision for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development through Ofsted inspection reports
• Recommended and supported the development of some support materials to help implement the RE syllabus
• Begun to develop a list of people who are willing to be volunteer speakers in schools to support RE and collective worship
• Begun to develop information for inclusion on this website about local faith communities and their places of worship
• Provided a copy of the Non-statutory guidance on RE published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in 2000 for each school in the borough
• Supports the publication of a regular newsletter giving up to date information on matters relating to RE eg teaching ideas, resources, courses etc
• Publishes an annual report of its work
• Considers applications for determinations as and when they are received

Who is responsible for setting up SACRE?

The LEA is required by law to establish a SACRE.  The first SACRE of RBWM was established in 1999.

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