Can you help us?
We are always looking for humanist volunteers to join SACREs/SACs where there is currently no representation. There’s more information about how to apply on our Volunteer as a SACRE/SAC representative page. You can read about what it’s like to be a humanist rep in our interview here.
To see which areas are in need of a humanist SACRE/SAC representative, check out our SACRE/SAC reps map.
What are SACREs/SACs?
It is statutory for schools to offer religious education (RE) to all pupils from ages 5-18.
However, RE is not a part of the National Curriculum in England. Instead its content and management are determined locally. Standing Advisory Councils for Religious Education (SACREs) are the local committees that advise local authorities responsible for education on matters connected with RE and collective worship and support schools with the delivery of RE.
In Wales, following the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021, religious education has been renamed Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) to reflect the inclusion of non-religious philosophical convictions (worldviews) such as humanism. The new Curriculum for Wales will be rolled out to schools from September 2022, and SACREs will be renamed Standing Advisory Councils for Religion, Values and Ethics (SACs).
Agreed Syllabus Conferences (ASCs) are the local committees that draw up local RE/RVE syllabuses. They are required to review the local syllabus at least every five years. Although ASCs are constituted separately to the local SACRE/SAC, they often comprise many of the same people and have the same committee structure.
Guidance on SACREs
For more information about SACREs/SACs and ASCs, download our Guide to SACREs/SACs or our Short guide to SACREs/SACs.
If you want more information about why humanists should have a role on SACREs/SACs: click on this link.
You’ll find more about the impact of the 2023 High Court judgment on humanist representation on SACREs in this news article and in the more detailed documents below:
The Kent/Bowen High Court Judgment
DfE guidance for local authorities about membership of SACREs
High Court rulings on Religious Education and the Composition of Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education, legal guidance from Professor Satvinder Juss
You might also be interested in our new guide to what is, and is not, a non-religious philosophical conviction. This phrase – used in the new legal guidance for RVE in Wales – is causing some confusion between non-religious philosophical convictions, such as humanism, and convictions which are merely not religious rather than specifically non-religious. Our guide attempts to clarify things.
You might also be interested in our guide to what is and isn’t a non-religious worldview.
You can also find more information about our education campaigns regarding religious education and collective worship on our campaigns pages.
Support for humanist SACRE/SAC reps
If you are a humanist SACRE/SAC rep, you can access our SACRE/SAC reps area (via your member login) where you will find our SACRE/SAC reps handbook as well as other resources to support you in your role.
Support with agreed syllabuses
If you are looking for support with including units on humanism on your locally agreed syllabus you can find a core knowledge guide on our Understanding Humanism website which contains information on key content.
Looking for a humanist SACRE/SAC rep?
If you are a SACRE/SAC looking for a humanist rep, or if you have any other questions, please contact us on sacres@humanists.uk.