The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) met on Wednesday 10 June 2026 to discuss school collective worship determinations, updates from national bodies, and the council's priorities for the upcoming year. The meeting also included updates on interfaith activities and national developments in Religious Education.

School Collective Worship Determinations

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to considering applications for determinations regarding collective worship in three schools: Rhyl Community Primary School, Torriano & Brecknock, and Regent High School. These schools were seeking to renew their determinations, which allow for collective worship to be adapted to the diverse religious and non-religious backgrounds of their pupils, rather than adhering strictly to a broadly Christian character as typically required by the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

For each school, the report pack included their determination application, their collective worship policy, their assembly plans, and observations from the SACRE RE Professional Advisor.

• Rhyl Community Primary School presented an application highlighting a significant increase in Muslim pupils and a decrease in Christian pupils since their last determination. Their policy emphasised fostering pupils' moral, social, spiritual, and cultural development, with assemblies designed to be inclusive and reflective of diverse beliefs and values. The planned assemblies incorporated a wide range of themes and festivals throughout the Autumn, Spring, and Summer terms. An observation noted a well-structured assembly focusing on the Red Cross and Red Crescent, incorporating stories from different religions and encouraging reflection.

• Torriano and Brecknock Primary Schools (Federation) also applied for a determination renewal. Their joint policy outlined an inclusive, non-denominational approach to collective worship, promoting spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development, and integrating UNCRC principles. The application noted a shift in the school population, with a majority of pupils now identifying as having no religion. The planned assemblies for the year were structured around themes such as belonging, democracy, respect, and global citizenship, incorporating various cultural and religious festivals.

• Regent High School submitted an application noting a continued diverse faith demographic, with a large proportion of Muslim pupils. Their policy aimed to be inclusive and respectful, supporting the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of all students. The planned assemblies and tutor time activities were to be organised around a weekly theme, drawing from faith traditions, ethical issues, and current affairs. An observation of a Year 7 assembly focused on the theme of responsibility, providing practical tips for exams and encouraging reflection.

Faith Forum Update

A representative from the Camden Faith Forum was scheduled to provide a verbal update on their recent activities. This update was expected to cover interfaith events and support initiatives. Members were invited to offer feedback on how SACRE could further support the Faith Forum's work.

Update on National Association of SACRE (NASACRE) Conference 2026

Sarah Richardson, Chair of SACRE, and Claire Clinton, SACRE RE Professional Advisor, were due to provide an update on the NASACRE Conference held in Liverpool. This update was also to include insights from any SACRE members who had attended workshops at the conference.

Camden SACRE Priorities 2025-26

A report outlined Camden SACRE's priorities for the 2025-26 academic year. Members were invited to provide feedback on how they could contribute to these actions, with the document intended to remain a live record. The priorities included producing the annual report, monitoring the implementation of the Agreed Syllabus, continuing the Primary and Secondary RE networks, focusing on SACRE membership, providing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for SACRE members, supporting Key Stage 4 RE, and utilising the SACRE self-evaluation toolkit.

Camden RE Newsletter & Networks

The RE Professional Advisor was to share the content of the termly newsletter and details of recent meetings with RE leads in Camden. This included the Summer term newsletter and minutes from the last two Primary and Secondary RE Network meetings held in Spring 2026. These documents provided updates on national and local RE news, resources, and discussions on topics such as the use of Artificial Intelligence in education and the Inspire Speakers project.

2026 Interfaith Primary Camden Conferences Evaluation Results

An evaluation of the 2026 Interfaith Primary Camden Conferences was presented. The report detailed the outcomes of these conferences, including pupil and teacher feedback. The conferences aimed to explore the concept of community and its various interpretations across different religions and belief systems. The report highlighted the attendance figures, the number of schools and faith representatives involved, and the creation of films and resources for schools. Members were asked to reflect on the conferences and suggest ways to build upon them in 2027.

National Updates

The RE Professional Advisor was scheduled to provide verbal updates on national developments relevant to Religious Education and Collective Worship. This included information on the Curriculum & Assessment Review (CaAR) and ongoing reviews by the Department for Education (DfE) concerning collective worship. Members were encouraged to provide feedback on how SACRE could enhance its understanding of these national issues.

The meeting also included standard agenda items such as apologies, declarations of interest, announcements, and the approval of previous minutes. Future meeting dates for the 2026/27 academic year were also to be noted.