The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) meeting was scheduled to discuss the adoption of a new Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education and review the council's action plan. The meeting also included updates on national and local religious education matters.

Agreed Syllabus Conference

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the convening of the Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC). The ASC was scheduled to discuss the development and adoption of the Bromley Locally Agreed RE Syllabus. This syllabus outlines the legal requirements for Religious Education (RE) in the borough's schools, detailing expectations for curriculum content, teaching standards, and pupil progression. The document emphasizes a conceptual approach to RE, focusing on meaningful questions and worldviews rather than rote memorisation of facts. It also details the expected curriculum time allocation for RE across different key stages, from Early Years Foundation Stage to Key Stage 5. The proposed syllabus aims to establish entitlement, set standards, promote continuity and coherence, and foster public understanding of RE. The report pack also included a framework for planning RE curriculum, a progression spectrum for assessing pupil development, and guidance for Early Years Foundation Stage and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision within RE. The ASC was also to discuss the launch of the new syllabus, planned for 1 July 2026, which would include a professional development session for subject leaders and an interfaith event.

National and Local Updates

The council was scheduled to receive updates on national RE matters, including information from the NASACRE Conference. Locally, discussions were planned around the Interfaith Calendar, with a report on the artwork competition for the calendar. Updates were also expected on the Jewish Living Experience Exhibition and the Secondary Interfaith Dialogue Conference, which focused on remembrance and religious persecution. The council was also to be briefed on Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations and receive workforce data regarding RE curriculum time allocation.

SACRE Action Plan

The meeting agenda included a review of the SACRE Action Plan for September 2025 to September 2026. This plan details ongoing actions and priorities for the council, including teacher training and support, the Interfaith Calendar competition, syllabus review, and support for NASACRE. The report pack indicated that the budget for the upcoming year had been provisionally agreed.

Compliance with GDPR

The council was scheduled to discuss compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), with no breaches reported. The sharing of SACRE members' email addresses to facilitate communication between meetings was also to be addressed.