The Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) of Brent Council was scheduled to convene on Thursday 5 February 2026 at the Neasden Hindu Temple. The meeting's agenda included a review of the previous meeting's minutes, the election of a Vice Chair, and consideration of the SACRE Annual Report for 2024-25. Updates on general Religious Education (RE) matters and the National Association of SACREs (NASACRE) were also planned.

SACRE Annual Report 2024-25

A key item on the agenda was the consideration of the SACRE Annual Report for the academic year 2024-25. This report, provided by the SACRE Advisor, Nadia Nadeem, was expected to detail the council's activities and responsibilities. The report outlines Brent's diverse religious and belief landscape, citing 2021 National Census data which shows a population of 339,817 with significant Christian (131,914), Muslim (72,574), and Hindu (52,876) communities, alongside other faiths and those with no religion.

The report details SACRE's statutory responsibilities concerning Religious Education, including the review of the Locally Agreed Syllabus (LAS), which was updated and approved on 6th July 2023. It also covers SACRE's role in advising on the support for RE teaching, methods, and teacher professional development. The report highlights that no complaints were received regarding Religious Education or Collective Worship during the 2024-25 academic year, and no pupils were withdrawn from RE.

Under Collective Worship, the report lists schools that received a determination regarding their collective worship arrangements during 2024-25, including Fryent Primary School, Roe Green Junior School, and Leopold Primary School. The report also notes SACRE's affiliation with NASACRE and its participation in national RE developments.

General RE Update

Attendees were scheduled to receive an update from the SACRE Advisor on general RE and related issues. This update was expected to cover national developments, including the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review's recommendation in November 2025 to formally add Religious Education to the National Curriculum for the first time. This review highlighted the need for a refreshed, inclusive, and balanced curriculum, a sentiment echoed by the Religious Education Council (REC), which has called for a National Content Standard for RE.

The update was also anticipated to address the proposal within the Education (Assemblies) Bill to replace the requirement for collective worship in schools without a religious character with inclusive assemblies. Furthermore, it was expected to touch upon the ongoing efforts to strengthen RE's status and accountability, particularly in light of the trend towards a 'religion and world views' approach, acknowledging that some individuals do not practice a religion and have varied lived experiences. Concerns about the equity and quality of RE provision, alongside a decline in A-level Religious Studies uptake in 2025, were also likely to be discussed.

Additionally, the update was to inform SACRE members about available free webinars on the RE Hub and ways to foster effective networks, including positive links with the Multi-Faith Forum. A significant legal ruling from the UK Supreme Court on 19 November 2025, concerning RE and collective worship in Northern Ireland, was also to be discussed. This ruling stated that the provision of Christian-focused RE and collective worship breached human rights due to a lack of objectivity, criticality, and pluralism. While this ruling does not alter legislation in England, it strengthens expectations for how RE and worship should be delivered in non-faith schools, emphasising that teaching must be educational, not confessional, and assemblies inclusive and non-coercive.

NASACRE Update

An update from NASACRE was scheduled to be presented by the SACRE Advisor. This update was expected to cover NASACRE's formal statement welcoming the Curriculum and Assessment Review's recognition of RE and reaffirming the importance of SACREs in future curriculum reform. NASACRE's statement noted the review's acknowledgement of RE's educational value and the inconsistency in RE provision across schools. They support a staged approach to RE's potential inclusion in the National Curriculum, ensuring SACRE involvement is safeguarded, and intend to actively engage in national discussions.

The update was also to highlight NASACRE's regular publications, such as NASACRE News and SACRE Briefings, which provide information on national policy, research, and training. The NASACRE Noticeboard, which flags significant national developments, and NASACRE's support for SACRE development through training, guidance, and shared resources were also to be mentioned. Specific upcoming training opportunities, including webinars on topics such as So, you've joined your local SACRE… , How can SACREs make strategic use of the New Oak National Curriculum? , and How to ensure your SACRE is fit for purpose? , were to be detailed.

Election of Vice Chair and Future Meetings

The meeting was scheduled to include the election of a Vice Chair for SACRE. In accordance with the SACRE Constitution, the local authority had agreed not to exercise its right to appoint the Vice Chair, leaving the decision to SACRE members. The appointment was for the remainder of the 2025-26 academic year.

Finally, SACRE was asked to note the date for the final meeting of the 2025-26 academic year, scheduled for Thursday 9 July 2026, which would be held online. Members were also invited to consider and comment on draft dates for meetings during the 2026-27 academic year, with a discussion on whether future meetings should be held in a hybrid format or remain online.