The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) met on 2 April 2025 to discuss national and local updates on Religious Education (RE), review the SACRE Action Plan, and make decisions regarding the review of the Agreed Syllabus. Key decisions included convening an Agreed Syllabus Conference, maintaining the SACRE's membership for this conference, and revising the current Agreed Syllabus.

National Updates

The council received updates on national developments affecting Religious Education. The SACRE RE Adviser, Stacey Burman, and the Chairman, Reverend Roger Bristow, are scheduled to attend the NASACRE Conference and AGM on 19 May 2025. Discussions also covered the Ofsted Report Card Consultation, with concerns raised about how Religious Education, which is not part of the national curriculum, will be evaluated within this new framework. Questions were posed regarding whether schools failing to meet statutory RE obligations could still receive exemplary reports.

An interim report from the government's Curriculum and Assessment Review was also discussed. Key points highlighted included the impact of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) not including RE, the influence of an exam-only system on RE provision, and the consideration of whether RE should be included in the national curriculum. The review also noted that some schools reduce their curriculum at Key Stage 3 (KS3) by introducing GCSEs in Year 9, which is deemed unacceptable if it means dropping RE. The SACRE RE Adviser, Stacey Burman, shared that Ofsted observations emphasised the importance of a sequenced curriculum, the need for a balanced focus on substantive knowledge, and the necessity of providing teachers with continuing professional development (CPD). Ms. Burman noted that these points reinforced the work already being done in Bromley, which focuses on RE being based on meaningful questions and inter-faith dialogue, as outlined in the Bromley Agreed Syllabus.

It was reiterated that teaching RE to all pupils is a statutory requirement, yet not all pupils are receiving it. A report from Ofsted in April 2024 indicated that fewer than one-fifth of secondary schools were compliant in providing core RE for every pupil, with provision often being sub-standard. The Chairman noted that colleges, which teach pupils aged 16 and over, should also be delivering RE, but this is not always the case. A SACRE Member suggested that a shift towards a worldviews approach might increase pupil engagement and the number of students choosing RE as an option, despite the closure of RE departments in universities. Data suggests that pupils who choose RE at GCSE and A Level are more likely to find employment and have a wider range of career options.

Local Updates

Calendar Competition

The SACRE RE Adviser reported that the inter-faith calendar competition, which features dates of religious and secular festivals, events, and celebrations, is underway. Artwork for the calendar is being submitted by primary schools across the borough, with the theme a special time/occasion that is important to me. A draft list of dates for religious and non-religious events from September 2025 to August 2026 will be circulated to SACRE Members for review.

'In Conversation with NASACRE' Event

The Chairman attended the 'London in Conversation with NASACRE' event on 13 March 2025, which facilitated virtual discussions with other London SACREs and NASACRE representatives. The breakout group discussions focused on the relationship between SACREs and local authorities, and the engagement of Elected Members. Feedback indicated that Bromley SACRE is performing well in terms of support from the Local Authority and engagement from Elected Members. This was echoed by the SACRE RE Adviser, who highlighted the proactive nature of the SACRE's membership and its collaborative projects.

Inter-faith Dialogue Conference and Showcase Event

An inter-faith event, designed to model the pedagogy of the Bromley Agreed Syllabus, took place in four stages. The event was based on the big question of How did the world and life get here? and involved an introductory session for teachers, an online conference with a panel of speakers from various religions and worldviews on 11 March 2025, a reflective session for pupils, and a showcase event planned for 18 June 2025. The SACRE RE Adviser explained that the focus was on dialogue, the asking of questions, and the ability to consider responses, rather than finding single answers. The event was noted to have been successful in engaging pupils from Reception to Year 13 due to the use of a universally relatable big question. The showcase event will feature artwork and materials generated by pupils.

E-survey of Schools

An e-survey has been conducted to gather feedback from schools on the RE being delivered, which will inform the review of the Agreed Syllabus.

Syllabus Review

The SACRE was informed that a review of the Agreed Syllabus is required every five years. The consensus was to build upon the current Bromley Agreed Syllabus rather than rewrite it or purchase a new one. Following a discussion, the SACRE resolved to convene an Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC) with the same membership as the SACRE, to be held on 18 June 2025, with the aim of revising the current Agreed Syllabus.

SACRE Action Plan (Including Relationships with Schools)

An updated SACRE Action Plan for September 2024-September 2025 was presented. The SACRE RE Adviser highlighted that this is a working document with colour-coded actions. A significant concern was raised regarding the future funding of the SACRE, as the school improvements grant previously used to fund the SACRE had not been received by the Local Authority. It was noted that the SACRE is a statutory body and should be funded. Discussions are ongoing with the Director of Education regarding funding from the Central School Services Block (CSSB). A letter will be drafted from the SACRE to the Director of Education to support these discussions.

Any Other Business

There was no other business raised during the meeting.

Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education is scheduled for 6.00 pm on Wednesday, 18 June 2025, with the venue to be confirmed. Subsequent meetings are scheduled for 6.00 pm on Wednesday, 3 December 2025, and 6.00 pm on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.