Humanists on SACREs and SACs

Every local authority in England and Wales has a council that advises on religious education. Humanists now serve on almost all of them, helping to make RE inclusive, rigorous, and relevant for every pupil.

Become a humanist rep Information for councils
153of 173 councils have a full humanist member, up from around 60 in 2021. Each square is one SACRE or SAC in England and Wales. Source: Humanists UK, August 2026.

What SACREs, SACs, and ASCs do

Religious education is compulsory for pupils aged 5 to 18, but in England it is not part of the National Curriculum. Instead, what pupils learn is decided locally, by these bodies.

SACREEngland
A Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education advises its local authority on RE and collective worship, and supports schools to teach RE well. Members come from religious and non-religious groups, teachers’ associations, and the council.
SACWales
Since the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021, RE in Wales is called Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE), and SACREs are Standing Advisory Councils on Religion, Values and Ethics. The law requires them to include representatives of non-religious worldviews such as humanism.
ASCEngland and Wales
An Agreed Syllabus Conference writes the local RE or RVE syllabus, and must review it at least every five years. It is set up separately from the SACRE or SAC, but often has the same members and structure.

Teachers, parents, and governors make excellent reps. If you care about how RE is taught locally, you could help shape it yourself.

How to get involved →

A decade of progress towards inclusive RE

Humanist representation has grown from a handful of councils to almost all of them, and nearly every locally agreed syllabus in England and Wales now includes humanism.

Full humanist members of SACREs and SACs

The full width of each bar is all 173 SACREs and SACs. Source: Humanists UK, August 2026.

  1. 2015In Fox, the High Court rules the Government wrong to suggest that RE could leave out non-religious worldviews such as humanism.
  2. 2021The Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act includes non-religious philosophical convictions in RVE and on SACs.
  3. 2023In Bowen v Kent, the High Court rules it unlawful to exclude a humanist from a SACRE. The Department for Education writes to every council in England.
  4. 2025All 22 local authorities in Wales have a humanist full member of their SAC.
  5. 2026The Government plans to consult on a draft national curriculum for RE in England that includes non-religious worldviews such as humanism.

500,000pupils reached by our trained school speakers since 2016

3,000teachers trained to teach about humanism

500+free classroom resources on Understanding Humanism

For councils and SACRE members

Humanist reps bring the perspective of the many non-religious families in every area, along with practical support: our free resources, school speakers, and teacher training are available to every SACRE and school.

The legal position

  • England: following Bowen v Kent (2023), councils must consider a humanist for Group A of their SACRE on the same basis as a religious representative. Excluding someone because their belief is non-religious is discriminatory.
  • Wales: since 2021, the law requires every SAC to admit representatives of non-religious worldviews. In practice, these are all humanists.
Request a humanist rep

Become a humanist rep

Help make sure young people in your area learn about non-religious approaches to life. Most SACREs and SACs meet about three times a year, usually in the evening, with occasional working groups in between.

Experience of schools, as a teacher, parent, or governor, is useful but not essential. What matters most is a willingness to work patiently and cooperatively with people of different beliefs.

  1. 1Check the map to see whether we need a rep in your area, or nearby. Some councils accept reps from just outside their boundaries.
  2. 2Email us first at sacres@humanists.uk, before approaching your council, as places are sometimes filled before the map is updated.
  3. 3We’ll support you with a reps’ handbook, guidance, training, and a network of fellow reps.
See where we need reps Email sacres@humanists.uk
‘Humanist representation enriches a SACRE’s work by bringing our unique perspective, ensuring RE reflects the diversity of beliefs and worldviews found in our society.’
Steve Bowen, humanist rep, Kent SACRE
‘It was rewarding to be approached by teachers on our committee who thanked me for circulating presentations and materials on humanism that they can use in the classroom.’
Greta Farian, humanist rep, Kingston upon Thames SACRE · Read the interview

Already a rep? Log in to the reps’ area for the handbook, guidance, and training materials.