The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) of Wokingham Council met on Monday 08 June 2026 to discuss a range of topics concerning religious education in the borough. The meeting's agenda included updates on national developments, the local RE syllabus, school inspections, and the council's development plan and budget.

Matters Arising from Previous Meeting

The council was scheduled to receive updates on several ongoing matters. These included the next steps for the Berkshire SACRE Hub, which supports the work of SACREs across Berkshire and develops materials for schools. An update on SACRE membership was also anticipated, following efforts to fill vacant posts. The progress of a Task and Finish Group reviewing the process of developing the syllabus was to be discussed, alongside a letter expressing SACRE's concern about the withdrawal of funding for RE teacher training. Finally, plans for resource providers to present at future SACRE meetings were to be reviewed.

Minor Syllabus Revisions

A verbal report was scheduled to address minor revisions to the RE syllabus. This followed a previous meeting where amendments, primarily related to Hinduism, were discussed and approved by the Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC). Schools were reminded that the new syllabus was to be implemented by January 2027.

Religious Education in Wokingham Schools

The meeting was set to include a discussion on the current state of religious education within Wokingham schools. This topic was also covered during a presentation on the council's development plan.

National Updates and Feedback

Updates were expected on national developments affecting religious education, including feedback from the NASACRE (National Association of SACREs) conference and AGM. This would cover national policy papers, such as Protecting What Matters: Towards a more confident, cohesive, and resilient United Kingdom, which positions RE as a contributor to social cohesion and signals a government commitment to raising standards in RE. Information on new Ofsted inspection frameworks and their implications for RE was also on the agenda, alongside feedback from teacher networks and training opportunities.

Wokingham School Ofsted Inspection Update

A report was scheduled to provide an update on Ofsted inspections of Wokingham schools. This would include information on how the new Ofsted inspection framework, which is more thorough and challenging, is impacting schools. The report was expected to reference findings from inspections, including those at Early St Peters Primary School and the Forest School.

Development Plan and Budget

The council's Development Plan and Budget for the upcoming financial year were scheduled for discussion. This included plans for membership, SACRE member attendance at meetings, teacher training, and support for teachers. The budget update indicated that spending was on track, with additional expenditure anticipated for the design of the annual report and syllabus. The council's role in recommending RE resources for schools and the quality of RE teaching, particularly by non-specialist teachers, were also to be discussed.

Member Presentation: Judaism

Shira Solomons, a member of SACRE representing Judaism, was scheduled to give a presentation about her faith.

Dates of Next Meetings

The dates for future SACRE meetings were to be confirmed, with the next scheduled meeting set for 12 October 2026, followed by one on 1 February 2027.