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 Annual Report for 2024-2025.

Agreed Syllabus Conference

The meeting was scheduled to discuss the Agreed Syllabus Conference, which is responsible for developing and reviewing the locally agreed syllabus for Religious Education (RE) in County Durham. The report pack indicated that this would involve considering the RE at a Turning Point: Reflecting on Change and Today's Picture document, which outlines the National Content Standard for Religious Education in England. The discussions were expected to explore how the current Durham Agreed Syllabus aligns with this national standard and consider potential implications for future syllabus development. There was also a recommendation to consider an addendum or bridging document rather than undertaking a full rewrite of the current Durham Agreed Syllabus.

NASACRE Code of Conduct

A draft of the Durham SACRE Code of Conduct was scheduled for review. This code of conduct is based on the Seven Principles of Public Life, also known as the Nolan Principles, which include selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership. The code outlines 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 was set to consider the Annual Report for 2024-2025. This report provides an overview of SACRE's work during the academic year, including details on its membership, support arrangements, and meeting summaries. It also covers SACRE's statutory responsibilities concerning the locally Agreed Syllabus, standards and monitoring of RE, teacher training, and advice to the Local Authority. The report also addresses collective worship, including standards, monitoring, determinations, and teacher training.

Education Durham Report to SACRE

A report from Education Durham was also on the agenda. This report was expected to provide statistics on networks and courses, references to RE in Ofsted reports under the new framework, and an explanation of a discrepancy in Key Stage 4 (KS4) outcomes. The report also presented an opportunity for SACRE to lead a professional development day for schools and outlined progress from the Local Authority representative group.

My Lived Experience: A Personal Perspective

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

NASACRE Updates

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

Other Discussions

The meeting was also scheduled to cover the minutes of the previous meeting held on 5 March 2026, matters arising from those minutes, and the dates and venues of future meetings.