The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) of Lewisham Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 21 October 2026. The meeting's agenda is expected to include discussions on safeguarding, updating the Places of Worship directory, and a review of the SACRE Code of Conduct.

Safeguarding and Educational Visits

Discussions are anticipated to focus on safeguarding, with a presentation by Anthony Doudle, Director of Education. This is expected to cover an update on safeguarding practices and a review of risk assessments for educational visits. The report pack highlights changes in guidance, such as the updated Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 document, which places a stronger emphasis on early intervention, updated terminology for family help, and expanded guidance on children repeatedly removed from class. The updated guidance also addresses reduced timetables, noting that permanent part-time timetables should not be used and that any reduced timetable should be exceptional, time-limited, and subject to regular review.

Safeguarding risks are noted to have been updated to include revised terminology for self-generated intimate images and videos, a greater focus on cyber security, and strengthened guidance on child-on-child abuse, encompassing safeguarding and support for both victims and those exhibiting harmful behaviour. The report notes that reducing children's exposure to harmful social media content may help protect them from the influence of individuals promoting harmful attitudes. The guidance also continues to emphasise the links between mental health and safeguarding concerns, and includes expanded information on financial exploitation, coercion, scams, child sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, and indicators of serious sexual violence.

Further discussion is anticipated regarding children questioning their gender, with additional guidance noting that parents should normally be involved unless doing so would place the child at risk of harm. The document's emphasis on professional curiosity, information sharing, and safeguarding responsibilities is also highlighted. There is expected to be discussion on wider changes to Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) guidance, including increased emphasis on online safety, artificial intelligence, misogyny, violence against women and girls, healthy relationships, and age-appropriate teaching about pornography and sexual health. These curriculum changes are separate from KCSIE but complement the safeguarding guidance. The guidance also contains updated references to the Equality Act, biological sex, and gender reassignment, advising schools to approach contested issues in a balanced and age-appropriate manner. Greater emphasis is also placed on serious violence, knife crime, and personal safety.

Practical advice regarding school websites is also to be shared, recommending that schools review the use of children's photographs in light of AI image manipulation. Councillor Fergus Navaratnam-Blair is noted as advising that support for LGBT and trans children is a priority in the document. Anthony Doudle is expected to advise that there are elements of science from which a child cannot be withdrawn, highlighting the importance of parents and children having regular conversations about the important themes of the document. Shaun Burns is expected to comment that schools' approach to delivering these subjects is key, with factual content being important, while expressing some discomfort with the approach the document takes regarding contested issues. David Hutchens is scheduled to question whether inclusion of LGBTQ education is statutory. Anthony Doudle is expected to advise that LGBTQ is spread across the curriculum, highlighting that even in spheres such as economy or health, this community is one of those uniquely affected. It is anticipated that this subject will be revisited in more depth in future meetings.

Places of Worship Directory and Code of Conduct

The meeting agenda is expected to include the updating of the SACRE Places of Worship directory, with Denise Chaplin scheduled to present on this topic. This directory is intended to support schools in providing meaningful learning opportunities for children and young people. The report pack clarifies that SACRE has not undertaken quality assurance or health and safety visits to the sites listed, and schools are advised to complete an attached risk assessment to support any educational visit. The document outlines planning considerations for visits, including linking them to the Agreed Syllabus, defining aims, and selecting venues. It also details tasks for schools, such as contacting venues, communicating with hosts about pupil needs and the visit's educational purpose, and managing safeguarding and risk assessments.

Additionally, the SACRE Code of Conduct and the SACRE's attendance management process, presented by Stephen Sealy, are scheduled for discussion. The Code of Conduct outlines expectations for all representatives, including attendance, participation, and respectful engagement. It details specific responsibilities for belief group representatives, teacher and teacher association representatives, and Local Authority (LA) representatives. The attendance management process details procedures for members who miss consecutive meetings, aiming to ensure effective representation and the continuation of SACRE's work.

Other Agenda Items

Other topics scheduled for discussion include connecting social care with faith communities to protect children, which was deferred from a previous meeting and will be presented by Ruth Madembo, Interim Head of Service, Family Help South. There is also expected to be an update on the Annual Report 2025/26, including its submission to the council. The agenda is expected to include the approval of a Shia Muslim representative on SACRE. The meeting will also include an information exchange session, covering topics such as Inter Faith Week and any other items from NASACRE News. Finally, the dates of forthcoming meetings will be confirmed, with offers of venues still being sought.