Ofsted report - NASACRE press release

http://www.nasacre.org.uk/news/2013-10-07/ofsted-report-nasacre-press-release

NASACRE welcomes the report published by Ofsted on Sunday 6th October, 2013 relating to Religious Education (RE) in English schools. The report highlights the ways that the government has marginalised RE and how this has led to confusion in schools about the nature, purpose and place of the subject within the curriculum.
The report rightly calls into question the mechanisms for determining and supporting RE, both nationally and locally. All too often, Standing Advisory Councils for RE (SACREs) and Agreed Syllabus Conferences are under funded and under supported by the local authorities that are legally obliged to convene them. This report highlights the responsibilities that fall within the remit of local authorities in relation to RE. NASACRE urges the government to ensure that they are fulfilling their statutory duties.
Where they are given appropriate resources SACREs, which represent all the key stakeholders in the subject, have the ability to support RE locally and ensure that every pupil receives religious education of the highest quality. NASACRE urges the government to exercise moral leadership and respond to the recommendations made by Ofsted for the Department for Education (DfE) and ensure that local authorities meet their statutory obligations. Similarly, NASACRE would also like to see the Department for Communities and Local Government support Ofsted in ensuring that local authorities take their responsibilities seriously along with the DfE.
SACRES can do the job entrusted to them by law if they are properly funded and resourced and they are the best placed means by which to ensure that all pupils receive the high quality, balanced and inclusive religious education to which they are entitled.