The agreed syllabus in different types of schools

The locally agreed syllabus is a statutory syllabus of religious education prepared under Schedule 31 of the Education Act 1996 and adopted by the LA under that schedule. It must be followed in maintained schools and academies without a designated denomination.

Agreed syllabuses in any community school and any foundation, Voluntary Aided or Voluntary Controlled school without a religious character cannot require RE to be provided by means of any catechism or formulary which is distinctive of a particular religious denomination.
Para 3 of Schedule 19 to the School Standards and Framework Act 1998

In all maintained schools RE must be taught according to either the locally agreed syllabus; faith schools must teach RE in accordance with the school’s designated religion or religious denomination, or in certain cases the trust deed relating to the school.

Community, foundation and Voluntary Aided or Voluntary Controlled schools without a religious character

RE must be taught according to the locally agreed syllabus adopted by the LA by which the school is maintained.

Foundation and Voluntary Controlled schools with a religious character

RE provision in foundation and Voluntary Controlled schools with a religious character is to be provided in accordance with the locally agreed syllabus. However, where the parent of any pupil at the school requests that RE is provided in accordance with provisions of the trust deed relating to the school (or, where there is no provision in the trust deed, in accordance with the religion or denomination mentioned in the order designating the school as having a religious character), then the governors must make arrangements for securing that RE is provided to the pupil in accordance with the relevant religion for up to two periods a week unless they are satisfied that there are special circumstances which would make it unreasonable to do so.
Schedule 19(3), School Standards and Framework Act 1998

Voluntary Aided schools with a religious character

In these schools RE is to be determined by the governors and in accordance with the provisions of the trust deed relating to the school or, where there is no provision in the trust deed, with the religion or denomination mentioned in the order designating the school as having a religious character.

However, where parents prefer their children to receive RE in accordance with the locally agreed syllabus, and they cannot reasonably or conveniently send their children to a school where the syllabus is in use, then the governing body must make arrangements for RE to be provided to the children within the school in accordance with the locally agreed syllabus unless they are satisfied that there are special circumstances which would make it unreasonable to do so.

If the LA is satisfied that the governing body is unwilling to make such arrangements, the LA must make them instead. 
Schedule 19(2), School Standards and Framework Act 1998

Academies and Trust schools

Academies are all-ability, state-funded schools managed by independent sponsors, established under Section 482 of the Education Act 1996. Some academies have a religious character.

All academies are required, through their funding agreements, to teach RE.

• For academies without a religious character, this will be the locally agreed syllabus
• For denominational academies with a religious character (Church of England or Roman Catholic – but also Muslim and most Jewish academies), this will be in line with the denominational syllabus.
• For non-denominational (such as Christian) faith academies this can be either of the above, depending on the wishes of the sponsors.

Trust schools that are designated faith schools have to teach RE in accordance with the tenets of the faith.  If they are not designated faith schools they must teach the locally agreed syllabus.

For information:
Academies Policy, Finance and Performance Division
www.education.gov.uk