Purpose

To seek approval from the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills for Gloucestershire County Council to formally adopt the new Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education 2025–2030, following approval through the Agreed Syllabus Conference process and in order to enable implementation by Gloucestershire schools from September 2026.

Decision

In coming to this decision I have given due and full regard to the requirements of the public sector equality duty contained in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 (“the Act”) by reference to the law itself and also the relevant Equality Impact Assessment, which was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

Having fully considered all the available information, I have decided to reject the alternative options and take the recommended decision to: 

1. Approve the formal adoption of the Gloucestershire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education 2025–2030 by Gloucestershire County Council.  

1. Note that the Agreed Syllabus Conference / SACRE process has considered the final draft syllabus and that all four committees voted to adopt the new Agreed Syllabus. 

1. Delegate authority to the Director of Education to take all necessary operational steps to support implementation, including communication with schools, publication/access arrangements, and coordination of implementation support through SACRE, the Religious Education adviser and existing school communication routes.