The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) was scheduled to consider applications for school determinations regarding collective worship, review its membership and constitution for the upcoming year, and discuss its workplan. The council was also scheduled to receive updates on local and national developments in Religious Education and hear about the progress of the Ealing Agreed Syllabus Conference.

Collective Worship and Determinations

The council was scheduled to consider applications for school determinations concerning collective worship. This included a report on an application from Three Bridges Primary School for a determination to modify the requirement for collective worship to be wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character. The report detailed the school's diverse community, its proposed approach to collective reflection that incorporates various religious and non-religious worldviews, and provided evidence of parental consultation. A recommendation was made that SACRE members review the application and make a decision concerning whether to approve the determination.

Additionally, the council was scheduled to review an updated list of school determinations for 2026-2027, which included expiry dates and notification details for various primary and secondary schools across Ealing.

SACRE Membership and Constitution

The council was scheduled to review its membership for the 2026-2027 academic year, noting current vacancies across different groups, including Christian denominations and other religions, teacher associations, and the Church of England. Alongside this, the updated Ealing Local Authority SACRE Constitution 2026-2027 was to be reviewed and approved. This constitution outlines the council's role and functions, membership composition, the roles of deputies and co-opted members, and the procedures for meetings, voting, and the review of the constitution. The vision and values of the SACRE were also to be considered, emphasizing the promotion of spiritual, academic, emotional, and moral development for all pupils.

SACRE Workplan 2026-27

The council was scheduled to review its workplan for the academic year 2026-2027. This plan detailed the agenda items for the three SACRE meetings scheduled for Autumn 2026, Spring 2027, and Summer 2027. It outlined responsibilities for various processes and documents, including the preparation of agendas, minutes, guidance documents, and the annual report. The workplan also identified key individuals responsible for specific roles, such as the Chair, Clerk, Professional Adviser, and ELP SACRE Lead, along with deadlines for document submissions.

Local and National Updates

Updates on local and national developments in Religious Education were scheduled to be presented. This included information on the ongoing national curriculum review, with a focus on proposals to include Religious Education within the National Curriculum. Briefings detailed the background to these proposals, including reports from the Commission on Religious Education (CoRE), Ofsted research reviews, and the RE Council's National Content Standard. The announcement from the Secretary of State for Education regarding the intention to bring forward legislation to include RE in the National Curriculum was to be discussed, along with the proposed timeline for public consultation and the first teaching of the revised curriculum. The updates also touched upon the implications for GCSE and A-level Religious Studies qualifications and highlighted the continued importance of SACREs in supporting local implementation and providing expertise.

Ealing Agreed Syllabus Conference Update

The council was scheduled to receive an update on the Ealing Agreed Syllabus Conference. This report was to detail the progress made in reviewing and revising the current Ealing Agreed Syllabus, noting that the documents were completed for review. The update was to explain the distinction between the legally binding Overview document and the guidance document, Teaching Units, and outline the next steps in the process, including potential voting on changes and submission to the Department for Education. The revisions were intended to make the syllabus more user-friendly, incorporate updated language and educational concepts, and provide new planning grids and website resources for teachers. The shift in focus from Attainment Focus to Knowledge and Reflection was also to be discussed, along with the learning outcomes for different key stages.