A DEBATE will take place tomorrow about the future and nature of religious education in the borough - though whether it becomes a matter of record will depend upon if enough people turn up.

Thurrock Council's Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) met three times last year - and only once occasion did enough members turn up to make the meeting quorate.

It is hoped there will be a better attendance (albeit virtually) for tomorrow night's (Wednesday 6 January) meeting.

At the meeting members will be asked to set up discussions with young people from the Youth Cabinet, who are invited to attend, and then with each other about religious education in Thurrock and its links to promoting tolerance and respect.

A series of questions have been suggested for both debates. They include:

Questions for SACRE to ask Thurrock Youth Cabinet

• How has your experience of RE differed between your primary and secondary school?

• Describe your best and worst RE lesson

• Does learning about beliefs that are different from yours change anything for you personally? If so how? If not, why?

• What do you think the aims of RE should be?

• The UK is becoming less religious, but the world is becoming more religious. Does that make any difference to the value of RE?

• Has your learning in RE, complemented your learning in other subjects? If so how? If not, what should be changed?

• In what jobs would you say, you could use your learning in RE?

• To what extent do your religious or non-religious beliefs impact on your identity?

• To what extent do you recognise the religious or non-religious beliefs of your own family in the teaching you receive in RE?

• If you were in charge of the RE curriculum, what would you change?

Questions for SACRE members to ask each other

• What links are there between schools and communities of religion and belief in Thurrock?

• What could schools do to be more engaged with communities of religion and belief?

• What could communities of religion and belief do to be more engaged with schools? d) What would you say are the main aims of RE?

• What is the role of school RE for children that come from families who are belong to a particular religious or non-religious tradition?

• How far do you recognise the religious or non-religious beliefs of your own family in the content of RE in Thurrock?

• Do you believe that Religious Education is comprehensive enough in Thurrock to provide a good understanding of different faiths and beliefs? Explain your answer.

• Do you believe that Religious Education is comprehensive enough in Thurrock to promote tolerance and respect for people from different faiths and beliefs?