The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) meeting was scheduled to cover updates on religious education, national and local initiatives, and the development of the Agreed Syllabus. Key discussions were expected to include the review of collective worship guidance, national updates from NASACRE, and local events such as the Interfaith Calendar Competition and the Jewish Living Exhibition.

Collective Worship Update

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to focus on the Collective Worship Update. This included a review of the current guidance, which was last published in 2008. The report pack indicated that a revised 'Bromley SACRE Collective Worship Guidance' had been drafted with the aim of better supporting schools in recognising and providing quality collective worship, thereby fostering improved community relations and cohesion. The proposed guidance aimed to clarify the legal requirements, define 'collective worship' and its distinction from 'assembly', and explore what 'broadly Christian' collective worship could entail. It was suggested that this guidance would offer a flexible model, incorporating themes relevant to Christianity and other religions and non-religious worldviews, with examples of quotes, songs, and prayers from diverse traditions. The report pack indicated a recommendation was made to finalise this guidance with example resources to be developed later in the academic year.

National Updates

The council was scheduled to receive updates on national developments concerning Religious Education. This included information from NASACRE in Conversation on 20th November 2025 and details about the NASACRE Conference planned for 18th May 2026. Discussions were also anticipated regarding the Curriculum and Assessment Review update and the work of the Independent Commission on RE and Social Cohesion. The report pack highlighted research into the teaching of Sikhi in RE lessons nationally, which suggested that current curricula often provided only a superficial understanding. Recommendations from this research included the establishment of a national working party to promote a more authentic understanding of Sikhi. Additionally, a national project focused on the teaching of Easter was mentioned, with a toolkit planned to help teachers identify and avoid stereotypical or antisemitic resources.

Local Updates

Several local initiatives were scheduled for discussion. The Interfaith Calendar Competition, open to primary schools, was to be reviewed, with the theme for the upcoming year planned to be special life events. The Jewish Living Exhibition, running from 18th January to 1st February 2026 at the Bromley Reform Synagogue, was also on the agenda, with the SACRE meeting itself scheduled to be held at this venue. The Secondary Interfaith Dialogue Conference, organised by Hillingdon SACRE, was to be discussed, with Bromley secondary schools invited to attend. The council was also to be updated on Holocaust Memorial Day. Furthermore, workforce data for Bromley was to be presented. The report pack noted concerns about swastikas being painted in the wake of protests, highlighting the importance of RE and interfaith work in the borough.

Agreed Syllabus Conference

A significant item on the agenda was the convening of the Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC). The report pack indicated that SACRE is legally required to provide an RE syllabus, which must be reviewed every five years. The draft of the revised Bromley Agreed Syllabus, using the 'flower' model for pedagogy, was to be presented. This model focuses on meaningful 'human' questions categorised as Cosmology, Axiology, Ontology, and Praxeology, with petals representing different responses and perspectives. The statutory section of the syllabus was outlined, including aims for Religious Education, how to promote meaningful RE, and planning an effective curriculum. The report pack indicated a recommendation was made for SACRE members to note and approve the Bromley Agreed Syllabus documents.

SACRE Action Plan

An updated SACRE Action Plan for September 2025 to September 2026 was scheduled for review. This working document outlines various actions, colour-coded to indicate progress. The report pack highlighted specific areas for development, including teacher training and support for RE networks, the development of collective worship guidance and resources, and the production of the SACRE Annual Report. The council was also to consider how to improve links with Local Authority initiatives promoting community cohesion, with suggestions including collaboration with Interfaith Week events and potentially contacting the Mayor's Office.

Other Business

The meeting was also scheduled to include a session on Any Other Business, where updated Guest Speakers Best Practice Guidance was to be discussed. This guidance was to reference the need for speakers to accommodate the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and to be flexible in their approach.