The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) met on Monday 5 October 2026 to discuss the national curriculum for Religious Education (RE), upcoming conferences, and national updates relevant to the subject. The meeting also included an update from members and local groups.

National Curriculum

A key item scheduled for discussion was the National Curriculum. This would have provided an opportunity to review the latest developments and proposals concerning the structure and content of Religious Education taught in schools across the country. The report pack indicated that the government's aim was to launch draft programmes for public consultation, with final programmes expected from Spring 2027. This aligns with the ongoing national conversation about RE, as highlighted in the report pack, which noted that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is working with NASACRE on a project analysing SACRE annual reports to understand their contribution to social cohesion.

Conferences

The council was scheduled to discuss various conferences. This included an update on primary online sessions, feedback from a Secondary Conference, and plans for a Year 9 conference. The report pack detailed a proposed programme of three free twilight webinars for primary schools during the 2026-2027 academic year, covering updates on RE and the national curriculum, and offering opportunities to Ask an adherent from various faith and belief traditions. Additionally, a full-day conference for primary RE teachers was planned for June 2027, focusing on using the Worcestershire agreed syllabus to deliver the new RE National Curriculum. The report pack also included evaluations from a previous Three Counties Secondary RE conference held in June 2026, which highlighted positive feedback on sessions covering curriculum relevance, using religious texts, and networking opportunities.

National Update

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a national update. This would have covered various developments impacting Religious Education. The report pack detailed that the task and finish group's work on the RE National Curriculum was complete, with a programme of study to be published for public consultation. It also highlighted concerns raised by NATRE¹ regarding a shortage of specialist RE teachers, noting that nearly six in ten qualified teachers teaching RE do not hold a relevant post-A-level qualification. The report pack also presented statistics on A-level and GCSE RE results for 2026, indicating a dip in A-level entries and a continued reliance on non-specialist teachers.

Update from Members and Local Groups

The council was also scheduled to receive updates from its members and local groups. This would have provided a platform for representatives to share information on activities and concerns within their respective communities. The report pack mentioned Tasnim Khawaja highlighting work with schools to visit local mosques, and Jatinder Loyal raising concerns about political rhetoric affecting the Sikh community. Dr Yvonne Stollard was noted to have highlighted fear within the local Jewish community due to antisemitic behaviour. Chris Giles was also mentioned for his update on secondary A-level online meetings.

Westhill Fund

The Westhill Fund was listed as an item for discussion. The report pack indicated that the deadline for the next round of applications to the Westhill Endowment Fund was 28 February 2027, with a new two-year cycle allowing for more time to develop projects and bid for larger grants.

Other Business and Future Meetings

The agenda also included a slot for Any Other Business, allowing for the discussion of any urgent or relevant matters not otherwise listed. Finally, future meeting dates were noted, with the next meeting scheduled for Monday 8 March 2027.