The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) appointed its Chair and Vice-Chair for the 2026-27 academic year. The council also received an update on the proposed inclusion of Religious Education (RE) in the national curriculum, discussed strategies for monitoring RE standards, and continued discussions on a proposed RE award scheme.

Appointment of Chair and Vice-Chair

Charmaine Lee was appointed Chair and Keren Wood was appointed Vice-Chair of the SACRE for the 2026-27 academic year.

Annual Report 2025/26

The council received the Annual Report for the academic year 2025/26 for approval. The report highlighted the diverse religious landscape of Kingston upon Thames, with the 2021 census showing Christianity as the largest religion, followed by no religion and Islam. The report detailed the SACRE's activities, including discussions on the agreed syllabus, monitoring RE standards, and preparations for a new RE syllabus. It also noted the recruitment efforts to fill vacancies within the SACRE, with four vacancies remaining in Representative Group A (Sikh, Free Churches, Hindu, and Buddhist communities) and one in Representative Group C (teacher association). The report also confirmed that no pupils were withdrawn from Religious Education or collective worship during the academic year.

National Curriculum RE Update

The council received an update on the proposed inclusion of RE in the national curriculum. The Department for Education announced that RE would be included, with a public consultation scheduled to begin in September 2026. The final national curriculum is expected to be published in Spring 2027, with schools beginning to teach it in September 2028. The current Kingston RE syllabus is licensed until the end of the 2027-28 academic year. Members discussed how the SACRE would contribute to the public consultation, with the preferred method being for members to submit their comments via email to the Chair, who would then consolidate them.

Monitoring Standards of RE & Collective Worship in Kingston Schools

Yasmin Nsiah, Lead Curriculum Advisor for Achieving for Children (AfC), presented an overview of the GCSE and A-Level Religious Studies results. While attainment data was generally positive, there was a noted decline in A-Level RE uptake, attributed partly to a shortage of specialist RE teachers. Ofsted's expectations for monitoring RE were also discussed, with an emphasis on the depth of learning and the integration of RE with other aspects of school life, such as British values and anti-bullying initiatives. Yasmin confirmed that Kingston-specific examination results data would be extracted and shared.

RE Award

The council continued its discussion on restarting an RE Award for Kingston and Richmond schools. As AfC had no budget to fund assessment fees, the discussion focused on adjusting the assessment model. Members explored options such as a paper-based exercise where schools submit evidence, with the SACRE members collectively assessing the submissions. Councillor Helen Milestone raised the possibility of using council ward funding for the award prizes, such as plaques. A working group, including Helen, was formed to revise the award guidelines and present them for approval. The council resolved to approve the implementation of the award, delegate authority to the Director of Education Services to revise documents, and appoint all SACRE members as assessors.

RE Today's Update (including NASACRE Update)

Julie Childs, RE Today Consultant, provided updates on various national initiatives. She highlighted the ongoing lobbying surrounding the inclusion of RE in the national curriculum and reminded members that a consensus does not mean universal agreement. NASACRE training dates were shared, including sessions on annual reports, chair and vice-chair discussions, and applying for funding. Interfaith Week was announced for November 8-15, with resources available for schools. The Jerusalem Trust funding for Christianity resources in RE was highlighted, and NATRE, the REC, and other organisations have produced documents on RE's link to technical and vocational education. Updates on GCSE and A-Level Religious Studies results were also shared, noting the high uptake of GCSE RE but a decline in A-Level entries, partly due to a lack of specialist teachers. A new resource, Understanding Muslims Understanding Islam, was mentioned as being nominated for awards.

Members' Update

Rachel Leventhall announced that school visits to the synagogue had resumed and were well-received. Councillor Callum Morrissey noted that ethnic minority church groups, such as Korean free churches, are often overlooked and offered to share lists and networks.

Forward Plan and Meeting Schedule

The forward plan for forthcoming meetings was noted. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 8, 2027, as an in-person event at King's Stoke Primary School in New Malden. Provisional dates for subsequent meetings will be announced later in the year.