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.
Could you be our new SACRE/SAC Coordinator? Many of these committees in England and Wales already have a humanist member. We need help with maintaining our records of SACREs/SACs and humanist reps, liaising with committee chairs and clerks, publicising the SACRE/SAC rep role, and filling vacancies. By volunteering as our SACRE/SAC Coordinator you could make a real contribution to our aim of having humanist representation on all the committees, and to supporting reps in their work. Find out more about the role here.
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.
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 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.