Recent trends in religious education in England: a survey of the reactions of Standing Advisory Committees for Religious Education towards increasing centralising influences since 1988

Abstract

This article is based upon data deriving from a questionnaire circulated to all local education authorities in England in Spring 2003. The questionnaire was sent to the chairperson of every Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education, the statutory body responsible for religious education at a local level. During the past decade there has been increasing pressure from government‐appointed agencies such as the Qualifications and Curriculum Agency to assume increasing responsibility for religious education in relation to its content and delivery. This survey attempts to discern the reactions engendered for those with the statutory responsibility for religious education who found their roles and functions being consistently challenged by this exercise of centralising influences.

Keywords:

• RE
• policy
• centralisation
• SACREs
• local RE

Notes

1. For a discussion of this perception that religious education is part of the problem and not the solution to the problem, see Hull (2002).