A REPORT on religious education, described as an alternative to one published last month by the Religious Education Council of England and Wales (REC), is being prepared by a consortium of conservative groups. At a pre-Christmas meeting with members of the All Party Parliamentary Group on RE, they said that they had not been consulted by the REC.

The consortium includes Canon Chris Sugden of Anglican Mainstream; Dr Philip Barnes of King's College, London; and Guy Hordern, chairman of Birmingham Standing Advisory Council for RE, as well as representatives of the traditionalist and minority-faith groups.

After the meeting with MPs, Canon Sugden said that the alternative report would say that RE must be informed by the actual faith and practice of faith and communities, and should not be confused with a museum approach "that spectates but expresses no commitment".

The REC, which represents 60 national organisations, including the Catholic Education Service, denied a lack of consultation. Its said in a statement that it had conducted two public consultations.