Religious Education in schools

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to children and young people from reception age to those in year 13 in all state-funded schools, except where they are withdrawn by their parents.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.

Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE)

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.

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 The full syllabus is subject to strict copyright restrictions and is therefore not to be published.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.

SACRE membership

SACRE membership includes:

  • 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 representativesTeachers

C

One representative

Jewish community

A

One representative

Hindu representative

A

One representativeSolihull Muslim Association

A

One representativeChurch 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 CarthewSolihull Council

D

Councillor GreenSolihull Council

D

Councillor HamiltonSolihull Council

D

Councillor SharmaSolihull Council

D

Contact information

Contact the SACRE support officer on:

Why is there a SACRE?

  • Every local authority must have a SACRE by law. The SACRE is a permanent body
  • In 1944, local education authorities (LEAs) were given the choice to set up a SACRE
  • In 1988, all LEAs were required to have a SACRE
  • The Children’s Services division of the Local Authority is now responsible for making sure there is a SACRE

What does a SACRE do?

  • Together with local religious groups, it can create the agreed syllabus for religious education
  • It must consider applications from a headteacher that the school be released from the requirement for collective worship to be wholly or mainly of a Christian character
  • It must publish an annual report of its work

SACRE meetings

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.

You must do this 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. 

Schedule of SACRE meetings for the 2025/2026 academic year

The next full SACRE meeting is due to take place on Wednesday 1 July 2026 between 4:30pm and 6:00pm at:

St Mary & St Margaret's Church of England Primary School
Southfield Avenue
Castle Bromwich
Birmingham
B36 9AX

Meetings 2024-2025

DateAgendaMinutes
Wednesday 2 October 2024October 2024 agendaOctober 2024 minutes
Wednesday 5 November 2024November 2024 agendaNovember 2024 minutes
Wednesday 5 February 2025February 2025 agendaFebruary 2025 minutes
Wednesday 26 March 2025March 2025 agendaMarch 2025 minutes
Wednesday 4 June 2025June 2025 agendaJune 2025 minutes

Meetings 2025-2026

DateAgendaMinutes
Wednesday 15 October 2025October 2025 agendaOctober 2025 minutes
Wednesday 14 January 2026January 2026 agendaJanuary 2026 minutes
Wednesday 22 April 2026April 2026 agenda 
Wednesday 1 July 2026  

Statutory documents

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.

National documents relating to RE in schools

  • Deep and meaningful? The religious education subject report (Ofsted, April 2024) at GOV.UK
  • The Religious Education Council has published a response to the Ofsted report on their website
  • Research review series: religious education at GOV.UK