The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) of Hounslow Council was scheduled to convene on Thursday, 22 January 2026. The meeting's agenda included updates on national and local religious education matters, a review of previous meeting minutes, and discussions on membership and the council's constitution. A significant portion of the scheduled discussion was dedicated to the dissemination of policy and guidance on Collective Worship.

Collective Worship Policy and Guidance

A key item on the agenda was the dissemination of policy and guidance concerning Collective Worship (CW). The report pack indicated that this discussion would aim to clarify when schools need to apply for a Determination¹ regarding their collective worship arrangements. It was noted that some schools had previously applied for Determinations when they were not strictly necessary, as they were already fulfilling the criteria for Collective Worship. The council was scheduled to discuss how to provide clearer guidance to schools on this matter, potentially including support materials and a review of existing policies. The report pack highlighted the importance of ensuring that Collective Worship reflects the diversity of faith and belief within Hounslow and the broader community, while also adhering to legal requirements.

National and Local Updates

The council was scheduled to receive updates on national developments in Religious Education. This included information on RE Hubs, the National Association of Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education (NASACRE), and the ongoing Curriculum and Assessment Review. A specific agenda item was dedicated to Sikhi Teaching, which was to be addressed at this meeting.

Local updates were also planned, covering teacher sessions, workforce data, and the interfaith calendar in memory of Lesley Prior.

Membership and Constitution

The meeting was set to include an update on the council's membership and attendance, as well as the introduction of new potential members, Kazim Maroofi (Shia) and Lubna Khan (Head Teacher). Members were reminded to ensure they were signed up to GovHub. Discussions were also scheduled regarding the council's constitution, with a focus on reviewing and potentially amending existing procedures and membership structures. The report pack indicated that a review of the Agreed Syllabus was also due, with plans to convene an Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC) on the same day as the SACRE meeting.

Previous Minutes and Action Planning

The council was scheduled to review and discuss the minutes from previous meetings held on 7 July 2025 and 22 October 2025, along with any matters arising from those meetings. An update on the council's action plan was also on the agenda, with a view to disseminating it to members.