The law says that Religious Education (RE) must be taught to children and young people from reception age to those in year 13 in all state-funded schools, except where they are withdrawn by their parents.
RE content is determined locally, not nationally. It is part of the basic curriculum, not the National Curriculum.
The principal aim of RE is to explore what people believe and what difference this makes to how they live. This is so that children can gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to handle questions raised by religion and belief, reflecting on their own ideas and ways of living.
Solihull Council is responsible for ensuring there is a Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) that is permanently in place in Solihull.
The SACRE has a separate identity to, and is independent from, the local authority.
SACREs are set up to represent a balance of all interests in the local community and give them the opportunity to influence what children learn in RE in school. Its primary role is to advise the local authority on what needs to be done to improve both RE and collective worship for schools in its area, and to produce a locally agreed syllabus for RE.
You can view an extract from Solihull’s locally agreed RE syllabus for 2025 to 2030. The full syllabus is subject to strict copyright restrictions and is therefore not to be published.
Solihull’s locally Agreed Syllabus was fully approved and adopted by the local authority in July 2025.
Not all schools in Solihull are required to teach RE in accordance with the locally Agreed Syllabus. Each school will have information on its website about what pupils learn in RE in each year group. This will vary according to whether the school is using the Agreed Syllabus or something different.
The National Association of Teachers of Religious Education website provides information about legal requirements relating to RE in schools and any requirement to teach RE in accordance with the locally Agreed Syllabus.
Group A (Representatives of Christian and other faiths)
Group B (Church of England representatives)
Group C (Representatives of recognised Teachers’ Associations)
Group D (Elected representatives of the local authority)
| Number of representatives | Representative of | SACRE group |
One representative | Birmingham Diocese and United Reformed Church | A |
Two representatives, three vacancies | Church of England, Birmingham Diocese | B |
One representative | Catholic Church | A |
One representative | Methodist Church | A |
| One representative | Humanist | A |
| Four representatives | Teachers | C |
One representative | Jewish community | A |
Vacancy | Hindu representative | A |
| One representative | Solihull Muslim Association | A |
| One representative | Church of Jesus Christ and Latter-Day Saints | A |
Chair role | Solihull Council | - |
Councillor Qais | Solihull Council | D |
Councillor Wilson | Solihull Council | D |
Councillor Marwa | Solihull Council | D |
| Councillor Carthew | Solihull Council | D |
| Councillor Green | Solihull Council | D |
| Councillor Hamilton | Solihull Council | D |
| Councillor Sharma | Solihull Council | D |
Contact the SACRE support officer on:
It is a requirement that SACRE meetings are held in public. At the discretion of the Chair of the SACRE, observers can attend SACRE meetings. Members of the public wishing to address SACRE meetings should notify the SACRE’s support officer by email at seis@solihull.gov.uk indicating the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than noon on the working day before the meeting.
Members of the public cannot participate in the meeting unless they have formally requested a four-minute deputation or to ask a question. It is at the Chair’s discretion as to whether to grant an extension to the four-minute deputation or the time allowed to ask a question.
Members of the public may be in attendance solely as observers. Observers are defined as individuals interested in the work of SACRE. At the discretion of the Chair of the SACRE, observers can address the meeting. Only members of the SACRE can vote, unless they are co-opted.
Full SACRE meeting 4:30pm to 6:15pm | Additional information Hybrid meeting via MS Teams, or at Solihull Civic Suite For in person attendance: Civic Suite, Rear of Council House, Manor Square, Solihull, B91 3QB |
| Date: Wednesday 15 October 2025 | Teams link to join virtually: TBA |
| Date: Wednesday 14 January 2026 | Teams link to join virtually: TBA |
| Date: Wednesday 22 April 2026 | Teams link to join virtually: TBA |
| Date: Wednesday 8 July 2026 | Teams link to join virtually: TBA |
| Date | Agenda | Minutes |
| Wednesday 2 October 2024 | October 2024 agenda | October 2024 minutes |
| Wednesday 5 November 2024 | November 2024 agenda | November 2024 minutes |
| Wednesday 5 February 2025 | February 2025 agenda | February 2025 minutes |
| Wednesday 26 March 2025 | March 2025 agenda | March 2025 minutes |
| Wednesday 4 June 2025 | June 2025 agenda | June 2025 minutes |
| Date | Agenda | Minutes |
| Wednesday 15 October 2025 | ||
| Wednesday 14 January 2026 | ||
| Wednesday 22 April 2026 | ||
| Wednesday 8 July 2026 |
Each SACRE across the country is required to publish an annual report which must be submitted to the Secretary of State by 31 March each year.