The Lewisham Standing Advisory Council of Religious Education (SACRE) meeting on 25 November 2025 was scheduled to cover a range of topics, including a safeguarding update, a review of RE teaching hours, and a discussion on the curriculum and assessment review. Attendees were also expected to discuss what makes a good SACRE member.

Here's a summary of the key items that were listed for discussion:

Curriculum and Assessment Review

The meeting included time to discuss the Curriculum and Assessment Review, with attendees provided with the Building a world-class curriculum for all final report.

The report highlights that the national curriculum is an investment in young people, and that education plays a crucial role in supporting individual success, building a prosperous economy, and promoting social cohesion. It recognises hard-won successes and educational improvements of recent decades, but notes that these have not yet benefited all.

The review makes several recommendations, including:

• Maintaining the current architecture of key stages.
• Addressing specific problems with content in some curriculum areas.
• Responding to social and technological change.
• Developing a new third pathway at level 3 to sit alongside A Levels and T Levels.
• Ensuring that the assessment system captures the strengths of every young person and the breadth of the curriculum.

The report notes that the review was evidence-led, and informed by research, analysis of datasets, commissioned research and polling, and a wealth of perspectives from experts, stakeholders and the public.

A statement on the Curriculum and Assessment Review from NASACRE was also included in the report pack.

RE Teaching Hours in Lewisham

The report pack included an analysis of RE teaching hours in Lewisham schools, taken from the school workforce census in November 2024. The analysis was provided by NATRE¹, who stated that they are committed to supporting SACREs, schools, local authorities and Academy Trusts in monitoring provision for RE.

The data included in the report pack listed the school name, school type, religious character, and advisor/contact in Lewisham, alongside the percentage of year 7-13 hours dedicated to RE, the percentage of KS4 Full Course Entries, the Ofsted rating, the local MP, and the political party of the MP.

The report pack also included a note that errors are sometimes made by the school when inputting the data, especially if the subject is called something else such as PRE or Worldviews. It also noted that schools where the data is recorded as a z have reported their teaching hours for other subjects, but have not reported RE, and that a conversation with them would be useful.

What Makes a Good SACRE Member?

Attendees were scheduled to discuss what makes a good SACRE member. The report pack included a list of characteristics of a good SACRE member, and attendees were asked to consider how they would rate each of these characteristics and agree on a ranking for them.

The characteristics listed included:

• Listens to all views and ideas.
• Seeks to understand the views of other members, rather than simply promoting his/her own agenda.
• Is willing to contribute to discussions.
• Understands his or her role as a SACRE member.
• Thinks his or her point of view is important.
• Is committed to SACRE meetings.
• Is well informed about the work of their SACRE.
• Works harmoniously with other members.
• Has time to spend in school.
• Listens more than he or she speaks.
• Wants to build good partnerships with other SACRE members.
• Is keen and able to communicate with teachers and pupils.
• Takes an active participative approach, following lines of enquiry of personal interest.
• Supports and encourages local schools to aspire to high standards in RE and collective worship.
• Is prepared to bring issues to SACRE from their faith, belief or other sponsoring group.
• Cares about pupils' learning and their personal development.
• Is confident about everything to do with RE and CW in schools.
• Takes an active part in meetings.
• Is able to offer relevant experiences.
• Understands and believes in the positive value of RE and CW in schools.
• Keeps in touch with national issues in RE and CW.
• Knows about local faith communities.
• Has the ability and confidence to question perceived wisdom.
• Takes an interest in key RE and CW issues facing schools.
• Works to create a bridge between SACRE, local communities and local schools.

Other Business

• Safeguarding Update: Anthony Doudle was scheduled to provide a safeguarding update.
• Holocaust Memorial Day: There was an item to discuss matters arising from the minutes not on the agenda, including Holocaust Memorial Day.