An exciting piece of work undertaken in Waltham Forest has been cited as an example of best practice in the Revised National SRE Guidance published by the DfE. A public consultation on the guidance is now underway.

Waltham Forest’s Change for Children Team worked in partnership with the Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education (SACRE) and local faith group members to produce a local values framework for SRE. A working party was formed which reflected the rich diversity of the community, including Buddhist, Church of England, Free Church, Hindu, Humanist, Islamic, Jewish, Methodist, Roman Catholic and Sikh representatives. Meetings involved full and frank dialogue, and wider consultation with faith groups continued until the framework took shape. The values framework was accepted by the SACRE and recommended for use in schools.

A vibrant and successful launch in the borough’s assembly halls in November 2008 was attended by councillors, governors, headteachers, teachers, the Youth Service, health service and FE partners. Videos were shown including pupils from mainstream and special schools talking about their involvement in SRE, and working party members reading the values framework statements. They included powerful speeches by Muslim and Free Church SACRE members. Both promoted the value of schools using the framework.

Waltham Forest was praised by Ofsted in their Joint Area Review Report; “Excellent work with faith communities to explore a single faith and values framework to inform sex and relationships work is contributing to community cohesion.”


To view the guidance or take part in the consultation visit the DfE website.