The Standing Advisory Committee for Religious Education (SACRE) of Derbyshire Council met on Monday 6 July 2026 to discuss support for schools, the collection of Religious Education (RE) data, and national curriculum developments. The meeting's agenda included an update on external organisations that can assist schools with RE provision, a discussion on the potential collection of RE provision data from schools with GDPR considerations, and an overview of the national Curriculum and Assessment Review and its potential implications for RE.

Support Available for Schools from External Organisations

The committee was scheduled to consider information regarding external charities, faith organisations, educational trusts, and professional associations that offer resources, training, visits, speakers, and curriculum support for Religious Education, Religion and Worldviews, collective worship, and interfaith understanding. The report pack indicated that this information would be circulated through the Education Improvement Service newsletter. It was proposed that Derbyshire County Council and SACRE would provide this information without endorsing, accrediting, or quality assuring individual organisations, resources, or providers. The aim was to help schools make informed decisions while maintaining their responsibility for ensuring the appropriateness and balance of any external resources or activities. The committee was invited to endorse this approach and suggest any additional organisations for inclusion.

Collection of RE Provision Data from Schools (GDPR Consideration)

A key item on the agenda was the potential collection of information from Derbyshire schools concerning their Religious Education provision, including curriculum arrangements and teaching time. The report highlighted SACRE's statutory role in advising the Local Authority on RE and collective worship, and the value of understanding the extent and nature of RE provision across the county. Such data could help identify strengths, trends, and areas for development. The report also addressed the crucial data protection and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) considerations associated with collecting, storing, using, and potentially publishing this information. The committee was asked for its views on this potential data collection and to consider whether further work should be undertaken to develop a formal proposal, including advice on the lawful basis for processing data, storage, retention, and anonymisation. The recommendation was for officers to investigate the feasibility of collecting this data and develop proposals for future consideration.

Curriculum and Assessment Review

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the national Curriculum and Assessment Review, which aims to assess the fitness of current curriculum and assessment arrangements. The report noted that while RE is not currently part of the National Curriculum, the review could have implications for the broader curriculum landscape in which RE is delivered. Potential changes might influence expectations regarding curriculum design, teaching time, and assessment approaches. The report also touched upon the potential impact on Local Authorities, Agreed Syllabus Conferences, and SACREs. At the time of the meeting, no final decisions had been announced regarding RE or the statutory functions of SACREs, but the committee was to consider the potential implications for Derbyshire schools and the work of Derbyshire SACRE. The recommendation was for officers to continue monitoring developments and provide further updates.

The report pack also included a statement from the National Association of SACREs (NASACRE) regarding the Curriculum and Assessment Review. This statement welcomed the attention given to RE in the review and expressed pleasure that the report recognised the valuable work of many SACREs. NASACRE noted the consensus on the importance of RE for pupils' development and its role in fostering understanding and strong communities. The statement also addressed the inconsistency in RE quality and compliance, particularly with academies, and the proposal for RE post-16 to become non-statutory. NASACRE welcomed the report's suggestion for RE to be moved into the national curriculum through a staged approach, involving various stakeholders from the RE community.