The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) met on Tuesday 11 November 2025 to discuss its membership, the implementation of the revised Lincolnshire locally agreed syllabus for Religious Education (RE), and analysis of recent inspection reports. Key decisions included recommending amendments to the SACRE constitution regarding teacher representation and approving the action plan for the upcoming academic year.

Membership Review

SACRE considered a report on its membership, noting that the current constitution restricted Committee C (Teaching Associations) to union representatives. Members proposed recommending to the Local Authority that the term unions be removed from the constitution for Committee C, allowing for broader representation from teaching associations across all educational phases, including primary, secondary, early years, special schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, and further and higher education. It was also agreed that the Democratic Services Officer would contact members with a history of non-attendance to confirm their continued interest in SACRE and liaise with relevant organisations to ensure all vacancies were filled, particularly for multi-faith representation on Committee A.

Update on Locally Agreed Syllabus

Gillian Georgiou, the Interim RE Adviser, presented an update on the implementation of the revised Lincolnshire locally agreed syllabus for RE, which was launched in July 2025 and is expected to be adopted by all local authority schools by September 2026. Training and support programmes have been developed for primary and secondary schools, focusing on a religion and worldviews approach. Wendy Harrison, an independent RE consultant, has also been providing training, with positive feedback received from over 120 schools. The report highlighted that many academies are choosing to adopt the locally agreed syllabus.

Analysis of Ofsted Reports: June - September 2025

An analysis of Ofsted reports published between June and mid-September 2025 was presented. The report indicated that while most schools showed positive comments regarding pupils' understanding of respect, tolerance, and diversity, only one school received a deep dive in RE during this period. Concerns were raised about the lack of specific comments on RE in secondary school reports and the potential for schools to not fully meet statutory RE duties. SACRE members agreed to write to schools to congratulate those with positive outcomes and offer support to those with areas for improvement, encouraging the sharing of good practice.

SIAMS Annual Report 2024-25

The SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) Annual Report for 2024-25 was reviewed. The report indicated that 98.8% of church schools met their legal foundation requirements, with weaknesses in RE being cited in nine of the eleven schools that did not meet these standards. Key priorities for Diocesan Boards of Education include enhancing RE training, particularly in areas of global Christianity, other religions, non-religious worldviews, and assessment strategies, as well as providing guidance for secondary-level RE.

Analysis of Catholic School Inspections - 2024-25 (Diocese of Nottingham)

An analysis of Catholic school inspections within Lincolnshire for the academic year 2024-25 was presented. The report showed that St Mary's Catholic Voluntary Academy in Grantham received a Good rating for RE and Collective Worship, while St Hugh's Catholic Primary School was rated Outstanding for Collective Worship and Good for RE. It was noted that these inspections assess compliance with diocesan requirements, distinct from Ofsted's broader curriculum quality judgements.

SACRE Action Plan 2025-26

The draft SACRE Action Plan for 2025-26 was presented, outlining key priorities such as ensuring access to high-quality RE training and support, actively seeking teacher and pupil feedback on RE provision, and developing regionally specific case studies. SACRE members agreed to establish a working group to gather teacher and pupil perspectives and to produce case studies that reflect lived experiences of faith and belief in Lincolnshire. The plan also includes creating opportunities for SACRE members to contribute to agendas and the action plan, and providing effective training for SACRE members, with the next session focusing on What Good RE Looks Like.

Work Programme

Members noted the proposed work programme for SACRE, which includes regular updates on RE Adviser reports, Ofsted, and SIAMS inspections.