- 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
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 The full syllabus is subject to strict copyright restrictions and is therefore not to be published.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
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 information
Contact the SACRE support officer on:
- phone: 0121 704 6620
- email: seis@solihull.gov.uk
Why is there 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 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
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 |
Meetings 2024-2025
| 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 |
Meetings 2025-2026
| Date | Agenda | Minutes |
| Wednesday 15 October 2025 | ||
| Wednesday 14 January 2026 | ||
| Wednesday 22 April 2026 | ||
| Wednesday 8 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
Further information
- The National Association of SACREs (NASACRE) provides general information about SACRE
- The Department for Education has published guidance for local authorities about membership of SACREs
- For RE resources and information specific to the West Midlands, visit RE Hubs: West Midlands
- The REady for Work campaign promotes the importance of high-quality RE in schools