The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) of Ealing Council met on Tuesday 3 February 2026 to discuss a range of topics concerning religious education and collective worship in the borough's schools. Key agenda items included the consideration of school determinations for collective worship, updates on the SACRE's membership and workplan, and discussions on local and national developments in religious education. The meeting also covered an update on the Ealing Agreed Syllabus Conference and the review of the SACRE's Annual Report for 2024-2025.

Collective Worship and Determinations

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the topic of collective worship and school determinations. The council was scheduled to review an application for a school determination from Havelock Primary School. Determinations allow schools to modify the requirement for collective worship to be wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character. The report pack indicated that Havelock Primary School was seeking a renewal of a previously granted determination. The application detailed the school's diverse pupil demographic, with a majority of families being Hindu, Sikh, or Muslim, and outlined the school's approach to collective reflection, which aims to be inclusive of various beliefs and non-religious worldviews.

Additionally, the council was to be presented with an updated list of school determinations across the borough. This list, updated in January 2026, provided an overview of existing determinations, their expiry dates, and the schedule for future reviews. The report highlighted that Ealing SACRE has been recognised nationally for its management of the determination process.

SACRE Membership and Workplan

The meeting agenda included an update on the SACRE membership for the 2025-2026 academic year. The report detailed the current composition of the council, including Ealing Council members, representatives from Christian denominations and other religions, and associations representing teachers. It also noted any existing vacancies within these groups.

The council was also scheduled to review the SACRE Workplan for 2025-2026. This plan outlines the reports and agenda items for the three SACRE meetings throughout the year and assigns responsibility for their preparation. The workplan indicated a focus on determination applications, updates on collective worship, membership, local and national updates, the agreed syllabus, and the annual report.

Local and National Updates

Discussions were scheduled to cover local and national updates relevant to religious education and collective worship. This included information on national changes and developments in the field, such as the Curriculum and Assessment Review and government decisions regarding Religious Education. The report pack mentioned a webinar programme for the National Association of SACREs (NASACRE) and highlighted the importance of writing to MPs to express concerns about religious education. The RE Hubs programme, aimed at encouraging better RE across England and Wales, was also noted.

Ealing Agreed Syllabus Conference Update

An update on the Ealing Agreed Syllabus Conference was planned, focusing on the progress made in reviewing and implementing the syllabus for 2025-2026. The report indicated that the syllabus would be returning to six areas of enquiry, which are intended to provide a framework for deep teaching and learning in Religious Education. These areas include beliefs, practices, ways of expressing meaning, identity, diversity and belonging, meaning, purpose and truth, and values and commitments. The update also mentioned ongoing conversations with schools and teachers, the integration of national changes, and the development of a new AMV syllabus website.

Annual Report 2024-2025

The council was set to consider the SACRE Annual Report for 2024-2025. This report is a statutory requirement for SACREs and serves to inform the Secretary of State for Education and other key partners about the council's advice to the Local Authority on Religious Education and Collective Worship. The report details the council's activities, including advice on teaching materials, teacher training, and the consideration of school determination applications. It also outlines the Ealing context statement, drawing on census data to reflect the borough's diverse ethnic and religious makeup. The report also covers the statutory responsibilities of SACRE, including monitoring RE and collective worship standards, providing advice to the Local Authority, and maintaining effective working relationships with national and local bodies.