The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) meeting scheduled for 13 November 2025 was set to cover a range of topics concerning religious education in Newham schools. Key discussions were planned around the council's priorities for the upcoming year, the results of a pupil survey on religious education, and guidance for schools on observing Ramadan.

Draft 2025-2026 SACRE Priorities

The council was scheduled to consider its draft priorities for the 2025-2026 academic year, based on findings from the National Association of SACREs (NASACRE) annual reports. This discussion aimed to outline the council's focus for the coming year, including plans for membership and development, supporting good Religious Education (RE) in schools, and establishing links to best practices in RE and Collective Worship (CW). A significant item was the preparation for the Agreed Syllabus review, with plans to secure funding and form a teacher working group.

Newham Pupil Survey 2025 Results

The meeting agenda included a review of the results from the Newham Pupil Survey 2025. This survey gathered feedback from primary and secondary school pupils regarding their experiences with RE lessons. The report pack detailed pupil responses on what they enjoyed most in RE, why they considered RE important, their experiences with visits to places of worship, and suggestions for improving their learning. For primary pupils, common themes included learning about different religions, comparing beliefs, and creative activities. Secondary pupils highlighted learning about the history of religion, discussions and debates, and active learning methods.

Standing Item: Faith Forum - Interfaith Week

A standing item on the agenda was the Faith Forum, focusing on Interfaith Week. The report pack highlighted the national Interfaith Week, scheduled for 9–16 November 2025, with the theme Community: Together We Serve. It outlined the crucial role SACREs play in promoting this week locally, encouraging schools to engage with resources, connect with local faith communities, and foster dialogue and understanding. The report encouraged SACREs to support schools in finding speakers, visit schools themselves, and promote whole-school participation in activities like interfaith feasts and faith trails.

Ramadan Briefing Paper

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing a briefing paper on Ramadan for schools, prepared by Newham SACRE. This paper aimed to provide schools with background knowledge and understanding to make sensitive and appropriate responses to issues arising during Ramadan. It addressed how schools should regard Ramadan, the age at which children are expected to fast, and the school's responsibility if a child becomes ill. The briefing also covered implications for examinations and physical education, and whether special provisions should be made during the lunch break for fasting pupils. The paper emphasised the importance of a positive and understanding approach from schools, noting that fasting is obligatory from the age of puberty but that parents often encourage younger children to fast on weekends. It also provided guidance on handling potential health issues and the importance of communication between schools and parents.

Student RE Matters Update

An update on Student RE Matters was also scheduled, focusing on the Belief in Action project. This interdisciplinary project aims to give students the opportunity to investigate and articulate the practical impact of religious and non-religious worldviews on the local community. The first meeting, held at St Bons, involved students from five schools who reflected on charity, discussed religiosity in Newham using 2021 Census data, and learned about local charities. The project's goals include exploring how worldviews translate into action, identifying local resources, and producing an information sheet about local charities for school use.

Other Scheduled Discussions

The meeting was also set to include a reminder about a good SACRE activity and the code of conduct. Additionally, there was an item on the NASACRE webinar programme for the year ahead, and a discussion regarding the SACRE budget and Agreed Syllabus funding from the Local Authority (LA). The council was also scheduled to discuss winning work from the POW competition for 2025 and the competition for 2026, and the date of the next meeting.