The latest meeting of Rutland County Council SACRE (Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education) took place on 6 June, and saw a range of councillors and representatives discussing the county's religious teachings in schools.

Members re-elected Gurdev Singh as chairperson for the coming year 2023/24, and the Rev James McWhirter from the Rutland Deanery as vice-chairperson. There was also a warm welcome for new member, Madeleine Gilbert, representing the Baptist Church, and Cllr Christine Wise (LibDem and Green Group) and Cllr Steve McRobb (Lab) as new local councillor representatives at their very first meeting.

Jane Narey, clerk of SACRE said: "We are allowed a maximum of five teacher representatives to sit on the SACRE committee; but at the moment we only have two. If members would like, I will write as the clerk, to schools in Rutland asking them to put forward additional teacher representative members, and education support staff as well."

Members approved the letter, and also heard a report from chairperson Gurdev Singh and vice-chairperson, Rev James McWhirter following their attendance at the NASACRE Annual Conference held at Fishmongers' Hall in London on Monday, 22 May 2023.

Rev James McWhirter said: "It was a great occasion for NASCRE as it was their 30th anniversary held in the glorious surroundings of Fishmongers' Hall with keynote speeches from Dr Kathryn Wright, the chief executive of Culham St Gabriel Trust and who leads the strategic direction of NASACRE spoke about celebrating religion and education and world views.

"Our patron, Charles Clarke, then spoke on a new settlement within religion and religious belief in schools over the past 30 years, and how that will be carried forward in our schools over the coming 30 years."

The next meeting of Rutland County Council SACRE is on 12 September, 2023.