The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) meeting scheduled for Tuesday 23 June 2026 was set to review previous meeting minutes and receive updates on school activities and national developments in Religious Education (RE). The council was also scheduled to discuss the agreed syllabus and any other business raised by members.

National Developments in Religious Education

A significant portion of the meeting was expected to focus on national developments within Religious Education. This included a review of new-style Ofsted reports and their mentions of RE, which indicated a potential increase in the subject's visibility, though concerns were raised about its potential dilution into pastoral care. The council was also scheduled to consider the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government's policy paper, Protecting What Matters: Towards a more confident, cohesive, and resilient United Kingdom, which highlights the role of RE and SACREs in fostering community cohesion. Information was also to be shared regarding the Jerusalem Trust's Small Grants to Schools Scheme, which supports the teaching of Christianity in RE, and details of the NASACRE Conference and AGM. Updates on the Westhill/NASACRE Awards, the NATRE primary survey, and Jewish Culture Month were also on the agenda. Furthermore, plans for Inter Faith Week 2026 and upcoming NASACRE training sessions were to be discussed. Finally, a range of courses offered by RE Today for primary, secondary, and cross-phase teachers, covering various religious and non-religious worldviews, were to be presented.

Update on Agreed Syllabus

The council was scheduled to receive an update on the agreed syllabus. This would likely involve discussions about the ongoing review process, including the potential for a survey to gather feedback from schools on what they liked and what they wished to change. The possibility of adopting a Religion & World Views approach, as being considered by the London Borough of Redbridge, was also expected to be a point of discussion.

Update on School Activity

An update on school activity was planned, which would likely include information on training days for teachers and subject leaders, such as the session at CEME covering Islam, Judaism, and ways of knowing. Discussions were also anticipated regarding the context and approach of world views in RE, and how these concepts are being explored in teacher training.

Minutes of Previous Meeting and Matters Arising

The meeting was scheduled to formally receive and approve the minutes from previous meetings held on 24 June 2025, 25 November 2025, and 12 February 2026. As these meetings had not been quorate, the approval of these minutes was deferred to this meeting. Matters arising from these previous meetings were also to be addressed.

Other Business and Date of Next Meeting

The agenda included a slot for Any Other Business, allowing members to raise any additional issues not covered elsewhere. The meeting was also to confirm the dates and venues for the 2026-2027 SACRE meetings.