The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) of County Durham Council met on Thursday 4 June 2026. The meeting's agenda included discussions on the Agreed Syllabus Conference, the NASACRE Code of Conduct, and the council's annual report.

Agreed Syllabus Conference

The meeting was scheduled to consider the Agreed Syllabus Conference, which is responsible for developing the locally agreed syllabus for Religious Education (RE) in County Durham. The report pack indicated that this conference would discuss the implications of the national curriculum for RE and how the current Durham Agreed Syllabus aligns with the National Content Standard for Religious Education. There was a recommendation to consider an addendum or bridging document rather than undertaking a full rewrite of the current syllabus.

NASACRE Code of Conduct

A draft of the NASACRE Code of Conduct was scheduled for discussion. This code outlines the Seven Principles of Public Life (Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, and Leadership) which members are expected to embody. It also details expectations for SACRE members regarding their participation in meetings, respectful engagement with diverse views, and conduct when visiting schools.

Annual Report 2024-2025

The council's Annual Report for 2024-2025 was to be reviewed. This report provides an overview of SACRE's work during the academic year, including its membership, support arrangements, and statutory responsibilities related to RE and collective worship. It details the context of County Durham, its education landscape, and the religious demographics of its population. The report also includes information on RE standards and monitoring, teacher training, and links with other relevant bodies.

Education Durham Report to SACRE

A report from Education Durham was scheduled to be presented, providing an update on RE in schools. This report was expected to include statistics on teacher training networks and courses, references to RE in Ofsted reports under the new framework, and an explanation of an anomaly in Key Stage 4 (KS4) 'actual' and 'value-added' outcomes. The report also highlighted an opportunity for SACRE to lead a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) day for schools on teaching non-religious worldviews, with a proposed event titled 'Nobody Stands Nowhere'. Progress on the Local Authority representative group was also to be discussed.

My Lived Experience: A Personal Perspective

The agenda also included a session titled My Lived Experience: A Personal Perspective. This item was intended to provide a platform for an individual to share their personal insights and experiences, likely related to religious or belief perspectives.

NASACRE Updates

Updates from the National Association of Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education (NASACRE) were planned. These updates would likely cover national developments, guidance, and training opportunities relevant to SACREs across England.

Other Business

The meeting was also scheduled to cover standard procedural items such as introductions, apologies, minutes of the previous meeting, declarations of interest, and matters arising. Additionally, dates and venues for future meetings were to be confirmed.