SACRE (religious education)

Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education

Every council must have a SACRE by law. This statutory body is responsible for advising the council on religious education (RE) and collective worship in its schools. Although RE is not a national curriculum subject, the 1988 Education Reform Act confirmed that it is a compulsory part of the curriculum for all students.

What SACRE does

  • Requires Barnsley Council to review the Local Agreed Syllabus every five years. Our next revision will be in 2025.
  • Monitors the provision of RE and collective worship in Barnsley schools.
  • Produces an annual report including the work of SACRE and Barnsley schools.
  • Considers applications from headteachers for their school to be released from the requirement for collective worship to be ‘wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character’ (this is known as a determination).
  • Supports RE teachers.
  • Supports governors with a responsibility for RE.

How SACRE works

The Barnsley SACRE meets once every school term. 

It has four main committees:

  • Christian and other religious denominations reflecting the principal religious traditions in Barnsley
  • Church of England
  • Teaching Associations
  • Council representatives

SACRE documents