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Schools and education

York SACRE

York's Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) was established in 1996 as required by the 1988 Education Reform Act.

SACRE meets termly, including for the presentation of their Annual Report in December.

It's composed of 4 representative groups:

  • Christian denominations, other than the Church of England, and representatives of other faiths
  • the local Church of England
  • teachers' associations
  • councillors

Religious education syllabus

Religious Education (RE) is not part of the National Curriculum, but must be taught in schools by law. The syllabus (known as the 'Agreed Syllabus') must be produced locally.

York's Agreed Syllabus was launched in May 2021 but cannot be published on this website for copyright reasons. Email SACRE if you require further details.

SACRE's duties

SACREs are legally responsible for advising Local Education Authorities (LAs) on RE teaching and collective worship, and ensuring compliance.

The Agreed Syllabus must legally be reviewed every 5 years - this takes place at an Agreed Syllabus Conference, involving the same groupings as a SACRE.

York SACRE's aims

York SACRE aims to:

  • promote a high quality Agreed Syllabus
  • help teachers and schools raise standards in RE teaching
  • help schools improve the quality of collective worship
  • contribute towards social cohesion, particularly in respect of improving religious and racial harmony within the community

Supporting SACRE documentation

View supporting SACRE documentation:

Collective worship

View our guidelines on collective worship:

York SACRE meetings

York's SACRE usually meets at West Offices, but sometimes, also in schools. Members of the public are also welcome to attend meetings (from 4.30pm to 6.00pm).

York SACRE will meet on the following dates in 2023 to 2024:

  • Thursday 19 October 2023
  • Monday 22 January 2024
  • Tuesday 19 March 2024

View the SACRE meeting minutes from 7 January 2020 and the York SACRE Annual Report 2019.

York SACRE membership

Members are currently as follows:

  • Chair: Councillor Robert Webb
  • Vice Chair: Ben Rich
  • Councillors: Councillor Emilie Knight, Councillor Martin Rowley; Councillor Sarah Wilson
  • Church of England: Sue Bland; Joseph Hepplestone
  • Teachers: Andrew Tod (primary), Taco Michiels (secondary), Diane Norton (Higher Education)
  • Bahai'i: Daryoush Mazloum
  • Humanist: Ian Hodgson
  • Jewish: Ben Rich
  • Muslim: Imam Amar
  • Roman Catholic: Karen Vincent
  • Religious Society of Friends/Quakers: Deborah Evans
  • Salvation Army: vacant
  • Sikh: vacant
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Penny Coppin - Siddall

In attendance: Maxine Squire (LA Adviser to SACRE).

Also see

Clerk to SACRE

West Offices, Station Rise, York, YO1 6GA

Telephone: 01904 553025