Humanists say a London council has backed down in the face of a legal challenge after trying to bar them from sitting on its standing advisory council on religious education (SACRE).

The Royal Borough of Greenwich’s decision is now “likely to pave the way for more humanists to sit on such bodies across England” alongside representatives of religious denominations, according to Humanists UK.

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The organisation had warned that it would take the local authority to the High Court if it persisted in barring humanist Rachel Taggart-Ryan from its SACRE.

Control over religious education

She had applied for membership of the body that oversees the religious education curriculum, but its members voted against giving her full membership and voting rights, and Greenwich backed this decision on the grounds that humanism is not a religion.

Ms Taggart-Ryan sent the council a letter arguing that she had been discriminated against because she was a humanist.

Greenwich again refused to allow her to join the SACRE and Humanists UK then instructed solicitors, at which point Greenwich reversed its stance and admitted her as a full committee member.

Humanists UK chief executive Andrew Copson said: ‘It is now very clear that SACREs cannot discriminate against humanists by refusing them membership.

“Like religious representatives, humanists must be allowed to contribute and vote on decisions regarding the RE syllabus and we are glad that common sense has prevailed in this case.

“Hopefully, it will also ensure that more pupils in schools across England receive a broader RE syllabus where they learn about humanism alongside the major religions, which is a vital part of their education.”

Greenwich council and the Church of England have been contacted for comment.