The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) meeting scheduled for 30 June 2026 was set to review the quality of Religious Education (RE) and collective worship across Lincolnshire schools. Discussions were planned around recent inspection reports, updates from national bodies, and the council's own action plan for the academic year.

Analysis of SIAMS Inspections

The council was scheduled to receive an analysis of Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) reports for Church of England and Methodist schools in Lincolnshire for the 2025-26 academic year. These inspections focus on how well schools live up to their foundation as Church schools and enable pupils and adults to flourish. The report was expected to highlight key findings and priorities related to Religious Education and collective worship within these institutions. For example, an inspection of North Hykeham All Saints Church of England Primary School noted that while RE was a valued subject with children enjoying meaningful reflection, there were opportunities to explore Christianity as a global faith and diversity within faiths more thoroughly. Similarly, Hackthorn Church of England Primary School's inspection highlighted that pupils were less secure in their appreciation of diversity within different faiths.

Analysis of Ofsted Reports

A review of Ofsted reports published between February and March 2026 for Lincolnshire schools was also on the agenda. This analysis aimed to identify any references to RE, British Values, and Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development. The report indicated that while most primary and secondary schools inspected showed a secure or strong understanding of respect and tolerance for difference and diversity, three schools had comments suggesting weaker knowledge and understanding of religion and worldviews. The council was invited to consider these findings and potentially contact schools to offer support or congratulations. The report also noted that Ofsted's ability to comment on RE is specific to certain types of schools, with voluntary aided schools' RE quality being judged by religious authorities.

NASACRE Conference Update

Chris Burke, Chairman of SACRE, and Mark Plater, a SACRE member, were scheduled to provide an update on the 2026 NASACRE (National Association of SACREs) Conference. The conference, held in Liverpool, focused on how SACREs contribute to building community social harmony. Key themes included the role of RE in fostering religious literacy and social cohesion, updates on proposals for RE to be included in the National Curriculum, and discussions around GCSE reforms and collective worship. The update was expected to cover presentations from experts such as Professor Vanessa Ogden CBE and Deborah Weston, highlighting the importance of RE in challenging division and polarisation.

SACRE Action Plan 2025-26

The council was set to review its action plan for the 2025-26 academic year, which is structured around five key aspects of SACRE's work: management and partnerships, promoting improvement in RE standards, evaluating the agreed syllabus, promoting improvement in collective worship, and contributing to community cohesion. The plan acknowledges the revised Lincolnshire locally agreed syllabus, launched in July 2025, and the potential implications of the National Curriculum and Assessment Review recommending RE become part of the National Curriculum. The action plan details priorities such as ensuring access to high-quality RE training and support for Lincolnshire schools, actively seeking teacher and pupil voice on RE provision, and producing regionally specific case studies to support the religion and worldviews approach to RE.

The meeting was also scheduled to include opening reflections, apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and the minutes of the previous meeting. A verbal report on the Agreed Syllabus was also anticipated. The date and time of the next meeting were noted as 11 November 2026.