Joining the REC

The REC is an umbrella organisation made up of member bodies which support its aims. The REC does not have individual members; however, anyone is welcome to sign up to receive the REC newsletter free of charge.

Membership

Which bodies can become REC members?

Member bodies should:

  1. Support the vision, values and aims of the REC and be actively involved themselves in supporting and promoting religious education in schools, colleges and universities.

    Our vision is for every young person experiences an academically rigorous and personally inspiring education in religious and non-religious worldviews in RE.

    Being an organisation with diverse membership, the REC seeks to work in a way that embodies values of co-operation, collaboration, openness, integrity, mutual respect and critical engagement.

    Our aims are to:

    • Be a clear national voice for the advocacy, support and improvement of RE
    • Promote the highest possible standards of RE in all schools, in all colleges and in teacher education
    • Influence policy proactively with government and other local, national and international bodies
    • Promote a positive public understanding of RE and its value to young people and wider society
    • Represent at a strategic level the collective interests of its member bodies in relation to RE
  2. Have a national remit. A member body has to be active at a national (England / Wales / UK wide) level because the REC seeks to influence policy and secure provision in RE country-wide rather than purely locally or regionally.
  3. Have a chief executive officer or equivalent which, in the case of organisations which don’t have a CEO, would be the Chair of the Governing Body.
  4. Have a governing body. Member organisations need to be run in a way that demonstrates principles of accountability and transparency in their decision-making processes. This will mean they have a governing body or board of trustees or directors; the name is unimportant so long as the requirement for open governance is met.
  5. Have a written constitution or equivalent. This is a requirement for the same reason as (4), that of openness and adherence to clear standards of accountability. A copy should be included along with any application for membership.
  6. Have a commitment to and be actively involved in the support and promotion of RE in schools, colleges and universities. The REC’s engagement with religious education is developed in the context of early years, primary, secondary, further and higher education and training.
  7. Subscribe to the principles for RE reflected in the REC’s Practice Code for Teachers of RE.
  8. Be independent bodies. REC member bodies are required to be independently constituted, that is, they need to be self-governing rather than departments or sections of a larger body which has control over their affairs.
  9. Satisfy the REC’s Board at its meeting and the Council at a general meeting that the membership criteria are met and that it is in the interest of the charity to accept the applicant into membership.
  10. Pay an annual subscription. Currently, the subscription is charged at a minimum of £250.00 per year, with a concessionary rate of £99.00 available to organisations that are unable to pay the minimum.
  11. Sign a register to confirm that the organisation meets these criteria and agrees to the principles set out above.