The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) is scheduled to meet on Monday 26 January 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of the SACRE's annual report, discussions on curriculum and assessment in Religious Education (RE), and an update on guidance for Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE).

SACRE Annual Report 2024/25

The council is set to consider its annual report for the academic year 2024-25. This report, detailed in the SACRE annual report 2024-25, is expected to outline the council's activities and achievements over the past year. It will likely cover areas such as the monitoring of RE standards, continuing professional development for teachers, and other local involvement initiatives. The report also includes SACRE annual report attainment data 24-25, providing an overview of Religious Studies examination results.

RE Curriculum and Assessment Review

A significant item on the agenda is the discussion of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, specifically focusing on Religious Education. The council will consider an abridged version of the report, titled CA Review final report abridged, which is part of the larger Curriculum and Assessment Review final report - Building a world-class curriculum for all. This review, led by Professor Becky Francis, aims to assess the state of the curriculum and assessment in England. The council will also watch a related video as part of this discussion. The review's findings suggest that RE should be moved to the national curriculum to improve access to high-quality provision. It also recommends a staged approach to reform, including the establishment of a task and finish group to develop a draft RE curriculum.

Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) Guidance

The council will discuss updated draft guidance for Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) in Wandsworth. This discussion will be informed by the Briefing Sheet for Wandsworth and the Draft G2GV2 for steering group Dec 2025, which outline the Department for Education's (DfE) updated statutory guidance for schools from September 2026. The new guidance places a stronger emphasis on pupil engagement, transparency with parents, and positivity and relevance in RSHE teaching. It also addresses new or expanded content areas such as online harms, mental health, and sexual harassment. The briefing highlights that while parents have the right to withdraw their children from sex education, they cannot veto curriculum content.

Northern Ireland RE Supreme Court Ruling

A significant legal development concerning Religious Education will be discussed: the recent Supreme Court ruling on the RE taught in schools in Northern Ireland. The NI RE Supreme Court case found that the Christian-focused RE taught in Northern Ireland schools was unlawful, as it was not approached in an objective, critical and pluralistic manner and amounted to indoctrination. The ruling is expected to lead to pupils being taught more about a range of faiths, not just Christianity, and will likely prompt a revision of RE syllabuses.

Proposed Public Faith Trails Update

An update will be provided on the proposed public Faith Trails. The Public Faith Walk Considerations document outlines suggestions for potential routes in Wandsworth, drawing inspiration from successful initiatives in Merton. These trails aim to promote interfaith understanding by guiding participants through various places of worship and significant religious sites within the borough. The proposals suggest routes that could incorporate locations such as the Town Hall, Friends Meeting House, Southfields Gurdwara, El Fazl Mosque, St Paul's Church, Wimbledon Synagogue, and the Buddhapadipa Temple. The document also suggests choosing a local Wandsworth charity to support, such as the Mayor's charity or a local homeless organisation.