The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) of Doncaster Council was scheduled to discuss updates on Religious Education (RE) provision and subject leadership, as well as receive information from Pennine Learning. The meeting's agenda also included the appointment of a Vice-Chair and the confirmation of the date for the next meeting.

RE Subject Leaders Network

The council was scheduled to receive an update on the RE Subject Leaders Network. This network aims to bring together RE subject leaders to discuss their work and aspirations. It was noted that the network would be hosted at Willow Primary School in Bessacarr, and that Pennine Learning had agreed to provide training sessions for RE leaders.

Pennine Learning Updates

An update was scheduled to be provided by Pennine Learning, an organisation that supports schools with Religious Education. The report pack indicated that this update would cover various aspects of RE provision, including curriculum and assessment review, collective worship, the NATRE Campaign for RE Bursary, LAS updates, and information about the Oak Academy and the NASACRE Conference.

The report from Pennine Learning highlighted that the government was set to update its guidance on collective worship in schools, with the current guidance dating back to 1994. This update follows a UK Supreme Court ruling concerning religious education and collective worship in Northern Ireland. The guidance is expected to reflect the existing legal framework, ensuring provision is objective, critical, and pluralistic, in line with freedom of belief rights.

The report also mentioned the NATRE Campaign for the RE Bursary, noting that while RE teacher training numbers had increased following the introduction of a bursary, it had since been cut. The report encouraged SACREs and individuals to write to their MPs to support the training of new, highly qualified RE teachers.

Information was also provided on the Believing and Belonging syllabus, which has two strands: Beliefs and values and Belonging. This syllabus aims to develop an understanding of world faiths and other beliefs in a multicultural context, while fostering respect for difference. Pennine Learning offers resources and planning packages for this syllabus, with different pricing structures for schools in West Yorkshire and other areas.

Date of Next Meeting

The date and time of the next meeting were scheduled to be confirmed. The report pack indicated that the next meeting was planned for Thursday, 2nd July 2026, at 4:30 pm.

The members of the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) scheduled to attend included Chair Niyi Olusola, Vice-Chair vacancy, Councillors Joan Briggs, Nick Pritchard, Lee Sammut, and Gerald Squire, alongside various representatives from different religious and educational organisations. These included Mr Bob Kiddle (Humanism), Mr Shaheed Syed (Muslim), Ms Lucy Saxton (Roman Catholic), Ms Mary Sivaanbu (Hindu), Mrs Pahani Kaur (Sikh), Mr Harvey Kasin (Jewish), Ms Jemma Gelder (Church of England), Mr Andy Wright (Church of England), Ms Vanessa Gregory (Church of England), Ms Hannah Lambert (Church of England), Mrs Sally Faulkner (Christian denominations and other religions representative), Ms Tara Moxon (National Education Union), Ms Danielle Heath (National Education Union), and Mr Keith Hawker (Teacher Associations (NASUWT) representative).¹