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

It is composed of four representative groups:

• Christian denominations, other than Church of England, and representatives of other faiths
• The local Church of England
• Teachers' associations
• Councillors

The SACRE meets about three times a year and publishes its agendas and annual report on this website.

Religious education

RE is not part of the National Curriculum but must be taught in schools by law.  The syllabus has to be produced locally and is known as the agreed syllabus.  York's agreed syllabus is currently being reviewed.

The SACRE's duties

SACREs are responsible in law for advising local education authorities on RE teaching and collective worship.  It can require the LA to review its agreed syllabus for RE.  If this is required, then the LA must constitute an Agreed Syllabus Conference to undertake this.  This involves the same groupings as a SACRE.

York SACRE's aims

These are outlined in the attached leaflet, and are:

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

SACRE meetings

York's SACRE meets in a variety of venues, including the Guildhall, schools and places of worship (and has met in the York mosque).