The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) is scheduled to meet on Thursday, 19 March 2026, to discuss several key educational topics. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, updated guidance on Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), and potential collaboration with the Richmond Faith and Belief Forum.

Curriculum and Assessment Review

A significant item on the agenda is the discussion of the Final Report of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, published in November 2025. This report, convened by Professor Becky Francis CBE, examines the national curriculum and statutory assessment system in England, with a particular focus on Religious Education (RE). The report acknowledges the importance of RE but notes inconsistencies in its provision. It recommends that RE should ultimately be part of the national curriculum, proposing a phased approach to reform. The SACRE is invited to discuss the implications of this report for its own work and for RE provision more broadly.

The report highlights that RE has been a compulsory subject in some form since 1944, evolving to encompass multiple world religions after the Education Reform Act 1988. Despite a strong consensus on its importance for pupils' development, the report indicates that the quality of RE provision is often insufficient, partly due to outdated legislation and fragmented support structures. The review suggests that RE should be moved to the national curriculum to improve access to high-quality provision, though it acknowledges this is a complex undertaking. A staged approach is recommended, beginning with the formation of a task and finish group to develop a draft RE curriculum, building on the existing National Content Standard for RE in England. The report also suggests reviewing the non-statutory guidance for RE and considering the removal of the statutory requirement for learners in school sixth forms to study RE, arguing it is inconsistent with the focus on learner choice at that age.

The National Association of Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education (NASACRE) has welcomed the report's attention to RE and its recognition of the important work many SACREs do. NASACRE supports the phased approach to moving RE into the national curriculum and will be an active participant in the proposed process.

New Guidance on Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)

The SACRE will also consider new statutory guidance on Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) issued by the Department for Education (DfE) for use from September 2026. Public health leads have developed a draft local briefing document, 'RSHE Guidance 2026 – Updated and Unpacked', for schools, and the SACRE is invited to review and comment on this before its finalisation. This document consolidates previous guidance from Wandsworth, Richmond, and Kingston councils into a single resource for the three boroughs.

The updated DfE guidance builds on the 2020 framework, incorporating new topics and reflecting evolving social and digital influences on young people. It emphasises pupil engagement, transparency with parents, and a positive, relevant approach to teaching. The guidance encourages primary schools to include same-sex parents in discussions about families and for secondary schools to integrate LGBTQ+ issues throughout the curriculum. It also addresses gender identity, stressing the importance of teaching facts and the law while being mindful of ongoing debates and avoiding endorsement of any particular view. New or expanded content covers areas such as misogyny, sexual harassment, online harms, mental health, and personal safety. The guidance also strengthens expectations for parental engagement and transparency, requiring schools to consult parents and make curriculum materials available.

The SACRE's role in this is to be aware of the new DfE guidance and how schools will comply with it, noting the overlap between RSHE topics and those covered in Religious Studies, particularly concerning moral and ethical issues.

Collaboration with Richmond Faith and Belief Forum (RFBF)

A proposal for collaborative work between the SACRE and the Richmond Faith and Belief Forum (RFBF) will be discussed. The RFBF, which provides a platform for local people from different belief groups to discuss shared interests, recently partnered with the London School of Economics Faith Centre and the Council's Climate Change team for an event exploring how faith and belief communities can support Richmond's ambition to become a net-zero borough. A key outcome of this event was the suggestion to collaborate with SACRE to explore how Religious Education can better involve young people in environmental issues. The SACRE will be asked to suggest ideas for a joint project, potentially a 'Faith Direct Day' focused on climate change, to encourage young people to consider the role of faith and belief communities in tackling this issue.

Other Agenda Items

The meeting will also include an update on the nomination process for the Chair of SACRE, noting that the local authority has decided there will be no change to the current process, which involves nomination from Group D membership. Additionally, the SACRE's remit concerning school complaints will be clarified, with members being reminded that the SACRE does not have the legal remit to consider individual complaints, which should be directed to the school's governing body and Headteacher. Finally, updates from the National Association of Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education (NASACRE) and RE Today will be provided, covering national RE news and developments.