Religious Education (RE) is part of the basic curriculum in schools. It is equal, in status, to the core and foundation subjects of the National Curriculum whilst remaining outside of the National Curriculum. All pupils must receive RE lessons in all Local Authority schools. There are rights of parents and teachers related to RE. These rights give parents the opportunity to withdraw their pupils from RE teaching and teachers the right not to teach RE. Teaching and learning in RE must be about Christianity and the other principal religions in Great Britain today. These are Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism.

The content of RE in schools is determined by a local SACRE. This body is empowered to produce, for the Local Authority's schools, an Agreed Syllabus for RE. This syllabus is written by an Agreed Syllabus Conference and is reviewed every 5 years. 

Sutton SACRE first produced an original Agreed syllabus in 1997. This was reviewed and changed in 2001 and again in 2006.  Guidance documents were added in 2007 and can be accessed below.

SACRE is made up of 4 groups:

• Teacher representatives
• Church of England representatives
• All other Christian and other religions representatives
• Local authority representatives

The SACRE can also co-opt members. The SACRE is also responsible for the advice to the Local Authority of matters relating to Collective Worship in schools but this occasion is separately dealt with and is not part of RE teaching.

Annual Questionnaire to Schools

The questionnaire is available via this link for completion and return by 18 July 2008.

Links to other RE related organisations