The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) meeting scheduled for 18 June 2026 was set to cover updates on religious education initiatives, national and local developments, and plans for interfaith engagement. The meeting's agenda included discussions on Faith Direct Day, ideas for Interfaith Week, and the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE) workforce data.

Faith Direct Day Update

A verbal update was scheduled to be provided regarding the plans for Faith Direct Day. This event aims to engage young people in religious and interfaith activities.

Ideas for Interfaith Week and Other Projects

The council was due to discuss potential ideas for Interfaith Week, a national initiative promoting understanding and cooperation between different faith and belief communities. The agenda also included a broader discussion of any other relevant projects that SACRE might undertake.

NATRE Workforce Data

The meeting was scheduled to include a review of the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE) workforce data. This data likely pertains to the hours dedicated to Religious Education (RE) teaching and the qualifications of those delivering the subject. The report pack included detailed tables showing RE hours across different school types and year groups, as well as examination entry data for GCSE Religious Studies.

National and Local Updates

Attendees were expected to review newsletters from NASACRE (National Association of SACREs) and RE Today. These updates would likely cover national policy developments affecting Religious Education, best practices, and resources for RE teachers. The provided documents included a NASACRE newsletter with information on the London Dangoor Awards and the School Linking Programme, as well as updates from RE Today on national policy, funding opportunities, and professional development courses for RE teachers.

The NASACRE newsletter highlighted the London Dangoor Awards, which celebrate RE and interfaith education projects across London. It encouraged nominations for schools, individuals, and institutions that promote interfaith understanding. The School Linking Programme was also mentioned, offering free participation for schools in Birmingham and Greater London to connect students from different cultural or faith backgrounds.

Updates from RE Today covered the impact of new-style Ofsted reports on the mention of RE, noting that RE is appearing more frequently, often within the personal development and wellbeing sections. A national policy paper, Building a Cohesive Society, from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government was also referenced, which discusses the role of RE in fostering shared values and community cohesion. Funding opportunities from the Jerusalem Trust for teaching Christianity were detailed, alongside information on the NASACRE Conference and AGM, Westhill/NASACRE Awards, and a NATRE survey for primary RE teachers. Finally, details for Jewish Culture Month and Inter Faith Week 2026 were provided, along with various professional development courses for RE teachers offered by RE Today.

Date of the Next Meeting

The date for the subsequent SACRE meeting was confirmed as Thursday, 8 October 2026, to be held at York House at 6:30 pm.