The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) of Camden Council met on Wednesday 10 June 2026 to discuss school collective worship determinations, updates from the Faith Forum, and national developments in Religious Education. The meeting also reviewed the council's priorities for the upcoming academic year and evaluated recent interfaith primary school conferences.

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 Primary School, and Regent High School. These schools sought to renew their existing determinations, which allow for collective worship to be conducted in a manner that reflects the diverse religious and non-religious backgrounds of their pupils, rather than being primarily of a Christian character, as is the default requirement under 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 updated analysis of its pupil demographics, noting a decrease in Christian pupils and a continued high number of Muslim pupils. The school had consulted with its governing body and parents, with no objections raised. The school's policy outlines aims to foster moral, social, spiritual, and cultural development, with an emphasis on inclusivity and respect for diverse beliefs. The assembly plans for Autumn 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 detailed themes such as British Values, Rights Respecting School expectations, and various cultural and religious festivals. An observation report highlighted a well-structured assembly on the Red Cross and Red Crescent, incorporating teachings from six different religions.

• Regent High School also provided an updated analysis of its pupil demographics, showing a majority of Muslim pupils and a significant proportion identifying with no religion. The school's governing body and parents had been consulted and supported the application. The school's policy emphasised collective worship as an opportunity for reflection, stillness, and community values, aiming to be inclusive and respectful of diversity. The draft sequence for collective worship for 2025-26 outlined monthly themes such as belonging, mental health, and human rights, drawing from faith traditions and ethical issues. An observation of a Year 7 assembly focused on the theme of responsibility, offering practical advice for students preparing for exams.

• Brecknock Primary School and Torriano Primary School, which operate as a federation, submitted a joint application. Their analysis indicated a shift in religious demographics, with an increase in pupils identifying as Muslim and a decrease in Christian pupils at Brecknock, while Torriano noted a majority of pupils identifying as having no religion. Both schools had consulted their governing bodies and parents, receiving broad support for their inclusive, non-denominational approach. The Federation's policy stressed the role of collective worship in pupils' spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development, aligning with their status as a Gold Rights Respecting School. The planned assemblies for Autumn, Spring, and Summer terms incorporated UNCRC articles, school values, and cultural events. An observation at Torriano Primary School focused on an assembly about clean air initiatives and the role of pupils as active citizens.

Faith Forum Update

A representative from the Camden Faith Forum was scheduled to provide a verbal update on their recent activities, including interfaith events and support initiatives. The SACRE members were invited to offer feedback on how the council could further support the Faith Forum's work.

Update on National Association of SACRE (NASACRE) Conference 2026

Sarah Richardson, SACRE Chair, and Claire Clinton, SACRE RE Professional Advisor, were expected to give a verbal 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 serve as a live record. Key priorities included the production of the annual report, the implementation of the Agreed Syllabus, the continuation of primary and secondary RE network meetings, efforts to enhance SACRE membership, and the provision of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for SACRE members. The report also detailed plans for supporting Key Stage 4 RE and the use of the SACRE self-evaluation toolkit.

Camden RE Newsletter & Networks

The RE Professional Advisor was to share the content of the termly RE newsletter and details from recent meetings with RE leads in Camden. This included the Summer term newsletter and agendas/minutes from the Spring term Primary and Secondary RE Network Meetings. These documents provided updates on national and local RE news, the use of Artificial Intelligence in education, new community films, and resources for teaching various religions and worldviews.

2026 Interfaith Primary Camden Conferences Evaluation Results

An evaluation of the 2026 Interfaith Primary Camden Conferences was presented. The report detailed feedback from teachers on what pupils had learned about community, what teachers had enjoyed about the events, and what they could take away for their own teaching practice. Facts and figures from the five conferences were also provided, including the number of pupils and schools that attended, the number of religion and belief leaders involved, and the creation of films and resources for schools.

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 updates from the Department for Education (DfE) concerning collective worship. Members were encouraged to share feedback on how SACRE could enhance its knowledge of these national issues.