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RE Council Information Leaflet
Membership of the RE Council

The Religious Education Council of England and Wales was established in 1973 to represent the collective interests of a wide variety of professional associations and faith communities in deepening and strengthening provision for Religious Education.
It provides a multi-faith forum where national organisations with an interest in supporting and promoting Religious Education in schools and colleges can share matters of common concern.
The Religious Education Council:

• Exists to explore and clarify the scope of Religious Education in schools and its relationship to other areas of the curriculum. It aims to facilitate joint involvement in decision and policy making at national level and to provide a means of communication between Member bodies, offering opportunities to share ideas and learn from each other.

• Meets in full Council twice a year, with eminent speakers and feedback from members, in venues provided by member organisations, including the Buddhist Society, the Islamic Cultural Centre, Conway Hall, the National Society and Methodist Church House. In recent years, members have heard talks on subjects ranging from Citizenship Education to RE and the Arts. Speakers have included the Chief Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks; Chair of the Citizenship Advisory Group, Sir Bernard Crick; Chair of QCA, Sir William Stubbs; Chief Executive of the Teacher Training Agency, Anthea Millett.

• Is a voice for Religious Education in the media and in meetings with government bodies. Representatives of REC member organisations have initiated meetings and consultations at the DfES and QCA.

• Publishes occasional reports and advisory booklets. For example, Collective Worship Reviewed was a report on extensive consultations on collective worship in schools carried out by the REC, NASACRE and the Inter Faith Network. Advice on celebrating the millennium in schools in a multi-faith context is another example.

• Has an Executive Committee of volunteers elected or co-opted from its members, normally consisting of a chair, secretary, treasurer and representatives from a cross section of member organisations.

Draws its membership from the national organisations of a variety of faiths and beliefs, as well as national bodies representing Religious Education professionals. All organisations which support the aims of the REC are welcome to apply for membership.