Essex SACRE

Information and guidance about Essex Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE).

It is a legal requirement for every Local Authority to convene a SACRE (Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education). The Essex SACRE meets once a term and is made up of four statutory groups and co-opted members:

  • Group A - representing non-Anglican Christian denominations and other religions and religious denominations
  • Group B - representing the Church of England
  • Group C - representing various teachers' associations
  • Group D - representing the Local Authority

View the current Essex SACRE Membership and the Essex SACRE report​.

The Local Authority works with SACRE to:

  • track and review the provision of RE and collective worship
  • consider with SACRE any action that needs to be taken in respect of support offered to schools

SACRE provides advice and support to schools, on matters related to Religious Education and Collective Worship.

Essex agreed syllabus from Sept 2023

The new Essex Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (RE) should be used by schools in Essex from September 2023.

Essex Local Authority and SACRE (Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education) would like to offer you support and suggestions to help you in achieving this and in sustaining and developing high-quality religious education for children in Essex.

Support, Training and Resources

Recordings and slides from previous training sessions are available.

Throughout the academic year 2024 to 2025 we are offering 6 twilight sessions.

You can sign up for these through the Education Essex online to book your free place.

Available dates:

  • Focus on Humanism: RE, Philosophy and Ethics in Essex: support for teachers –  Thursday 23 January 2025
  • Focus on Islam: RE, Philosophy and Ethics in Essex: support for teachers – Thursday 6 March 2025
  • Focus on Judaism: RE, Philosophy and Ethics in Essex: support for teachers – Thursday 8 May 2025
  • Focus on Sikhism: RE, Philosophy and Ethics in Essex: support for teachers – Thursday 19 June 2025 

For further subject expertise and advice, complete the online form.

Schools can join the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE school membership, allowing access to a range of support and resources.

Selecting resources for RE can be tricky, NATRE has shared guidance on resources for teaching Religious Education on their website.

Network Groups

Your local teaching school hub may have an RE Network that will be able to support you.

NATRE local groups, visit the RE Hubs website for the latest Religious Education news, CPD offers, ECT support and an online directory for places of interest/worship and visitors linked to RE.

Resources

The Essex syllabus is adapted from the Norfolk syllabus. It is sufficiently similar to make use of the resources that are on the Diocese of Norwich website, such as:

  • exemplar curricula you can adapt
  • slides for use in training staff
  • knowledge organisers to help teachers and students ensure they know what they need to know
  • broad lesson planning to support each inquiry (a half term of planning)
  • resources and fine detailed lesson planning

Saffron Academy Trust (SAT)

Saffron Academy Trust (SAT) has developed a scheme of work to support the new syllabus.

It is for schools to determine what resources and approaches best fit their demographic, and there will always be a need to adapt for your students, but some schemes can be effective in getting the structures into place. You can access sample resources from the scheme.

Useful Websites and Documents