Croydon religious education

Croydon Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE)

For further information on SACRE or the Croydon Religious Education Syllabus, contact penny.smith-orr@croydon.gov.uk.

Every local education authority (LEA) is required by law to have a SACRE. Its origins go back to the Education Act of 1944, but the Education Reform Act 1988 and the Education Act 1996 strengthened its place in an LEA.

The responsibilities of SACRE are to:

• provide advice to the LEA on all aspects of its provision for RE in its schools; this does not include voluntary aided schools
• decide whether the LEA's agreed syllabus for RE needs to be reviewed and to require the LEA does so
• provide advice to the LEA on collective worship in its schools (this does not include voluntary aided or voluntary controlled schools)
• consider any requests from head teachers to hold collective worship that is not of a broadly Christian character
• advise on matters relating to training for teachers in RE and collective worship.
• publish an annual report of its work

SACRE is made up of 4 committees:

1. Representatives of Christian denominations and other religions and their denomination
   which reflect the principal religious traditions of the borough.
2. Representatives of the Church of England.
3. Representatives of the teaching profession.
4. Representatives from the LEA, including councillors and RE advisors.