Please visit the RE pages on the Devon County Council website for information, advice and guidance.

Why RE Matters

The ability to understand the faith or belief of individuals and communities, and how these may shape their culture and behaviour, is an invaluable asset for children in modern day Britain. Explaining religious and non-religious worldviews in an academic way allows young people to engage with the complexities of belief, avoid stereotyping and contribute to an informed debate.

The RE curriculum

Since 1988 the subject of Religious Education (RE) has been part of the Basic Curriculum, but is not within the National Curriculum. This is partly because RE is determined locally by each Standing Advisory Council on RE (SACRE) and Devon SACRE is responsible for producing a local agreed syllabus for RE. Maintained schools and voluntary controlled schools who do not have academy status are required to follow their locally agreed syllabus and SACRE encourages academies and free schools to use it as well.

RE is a compulsory subject for all children in schools between 5-18, unless they have been withdrawn from the subject by their parents.

Devon SACRE shares the vision of the Religious Education Council that:

Every young person experiences an academically rigorous and personally inspiring education in religion and worldviews.

See the REC website where the Religion and Worldviews (RW) approach is explored in more detail.