The Lancashire Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) met on Monday, 17 November 2025, to discuss the SACRE Development Plan, the NASACRE statement on the Curriculum and Assessment Review, and potential funding for innovative projects. The council also reviewed its membership and discussed future meeting schedules.

SACRE Development Plan 2023-25 Evaluation

The council reviewed the evaluation of its Development Plan for 2023-25. Objectives within Target 1, focusing on effective management, statutory duties, and collaboration, were assessed. Objective 1.1, concerning the visibility of SACRE, was rated as 'Partially met', with a noted lack of meetings held in places of worship and incomplete representation from all religious communities. Objectives 1.2 and 1.3 were also rated 'Partially met', highlighting areas for improvement in member contribution and evaluation systems for Religious Education (RE) and Collective Worship (CW) provision. Objectives 1.4 and 1.5, relating to building relationships with academies and collaborating with national agencies, were both rated 'Fully met'. The council resolved that the Chair and Clerk would update the development plan with this information.

NASACRE Statement on the Curriculum and Assessment Review

The SACRE considered the NASACRE statement regarding the report Building a world-class curriculum for all, which included a specific focus on Religious Education. The NASACRE statement welcomed the attention given to RE within the review and highlighted the consensus on the subject's importance for children's development. It noted the inconsistency in RE quality across schools, particularly with academies not always adhering to the requirement to provide RE. The statement also addressed the proposal to make RE post-16 non-statutory, viewing it as a pragmatic decision. NASACRE supports the report's recommendation for RE to be moved to the national curriculum through a staged approach, involving a task and finish group to develop a draft curriculum. The statement also recommended removing the statutory requirement for RE study in school sixth forms.

Working Towards Achieving a Westhill or Culham St Gabriels Award

The council discussed opportunities to work towards achieving a Westhill or Culham St Gabriels Award. These awards offer funding for innovative projects in Religious Education and Collective Worship. The Westhill/NASACRE Award provides up to £12,000 for a two-year project, with a focus on Developing Diversity and preparing pupils for a multi-religious and multi-secular Britain. Culham St Gabriel's offers project grants up to £30,000, with a particular interest in projects focusing on special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), Artificial Intelligence, supporting teachers with other specialisms, and those from under-represented groups. The SACRE resolved that a possible Lancashire project for submission to a future round of the Westhill Awards would be considered by the Quality and Standards Sub-group.

SACRE Membership Update

An update on the SACRE's membership was presented, noting vacancies in the representation for Islam, Judaism, and the Lancashire Governance Association. Responses were awaited from the Lancashire Council of Mosques, the British Board of Deputies, and the Lancashire Governance Association. The council resolved to note this update.

Building Bridges Burnley Update

Afrasiab Anwar provided an update on the Building Bridges Burnley initiative, reporting that the schools programme was under review, with training needs being identified. Teacher training was also being considered, with a possibility of some delivery returning 'in-house' to the county council. The council resolved to note this update.

Other Matters

The council also noted correspondence received, including NASACRE News, a report on SACRE and Local Government Re-organisation, and the NASACRE Statement on the Curriculum and Assessment Review. A draft calendar of meetings for 2026 was presented, and the date for the next SACRE meeting was confirmed as Monday, 9 February 2026.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2025 were noted as a correct and accurate record. The council also welcomed new members, County Councillor Maria Jones and Dr Sarah Carlick, and thanked former members for their service.

A request from Keith Pennington, representing Lancashire Humanism, for Humanists to be granted full membership on the SACRE, rather than observer status, was discussed. Following a vote by representative groups, the request was not supported. However, Keith Pennington's commitment and contribution to the SACRE's work were recognised.