The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) met on Monday 9 February 2026 to approve amendments to the Wokingham RE Syllabus 2026 and discuss national updates impacting Religious Education. Key decisions included the approval of minor amendments to the syllabus and a commitment to raise concerns about the withdrawal of funding for specialist RE teacher training.

Wokingham RE Syllabus 2026 Amendments

The council approved minor amendments to the Wokingham RE Syllabus 2026, identified during proofreading. These changes primarily involved refining terminology and adding specific religious figures and concepts to ensure greater accuracy and inclusivity. For instance, in the Upper Key Stage 2 section, Hindu and Sikh Dharma was amended to Hindu Dharma and Sikhi, and references to Hindu deities were expanded to include Ram, Krishna, and Kathas of Prahlad, Ram and Krishna. The EYFS section saw additions such as Ram, Krishna, and Kathas of Prahlad, Ram and Krishna to stories, and the inclusion of specific rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Narmada, Godavari, Kaveri in relation to special places. The syllabus also clarified the distinction between the English word story and the Indian term katha.

National Updates and Concerns Regarding RE Teacher Training

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to national updates concerning Religious Education. Ian Nicholson, RE Advisor, provided information on the Curriculum and Assessment Review, which recommended RE be moved to the national curriculum. This potential change, expected to be implemented from September 2028, would necessitate a review of the role of SACREs and could lead to a national RE curriculum replacing local syllabuses.

Members expressed considerable concern over the government's withdrawal of funding for specialist RE teacher training, particularly in light of RE's potential elevation to a core subject. Nottingham University's closure of its Theology department and Birmingham University's closure of its PGCE in RE were cited as worrying examples of the impact of reduced funding on teacher recruitment and training. The council resolved to raise its concerns about this issue.

How Things Are in Wokingham Schools

Emily Waddilove, Local Authority Link Officer, provided an overview of the current situation in Wokingham schools. She highlighted that schools were preparing for significant changes, including the RE curriculum reforms and the new Ofsted framework. Financial pressures, low birth rates affecting pupil numbers, and concerns about school attendance, often linked to poor mental health, were also noted. The local authority is actively supporting schools through initiatives like the Partnership and Inclusion Services project, aimed at developing support for neurodiverse children, and the planned opening of two pilot family hubs.

Development Plan and Budget

The council reviewed the Development Plan and Budget report. A proposal for a full-day training session for secondary school teachers was presented as an alternative to previously poorly attended network meetings. A half-day training session was also planned for primary school teachers to address anxieties about implementing the new Wokingham RE syllabus. Vacancies in SACRE membership for Groups A and C were discussed, with plans to contact relevant organisations and individuals to fill these roles. The budget position was noted, with a minor discrepancy regarding inflation increases being investigated.

Task and Finish Group to Review Syllabus Development Process

Despite the potential for a national RE curriculum to supersede local syllabuses, the council agreed to proceed with establishing a Task and Finish Group to review the process of syllabus development. Members felt it was important to capture lessons learned while the process was still fresh in their minds.

Draft Annual Report for 2024/25 Academic Year

The draft annual report for the 2024/25 academic year was shared. It highlighted the production of the new syllabus and the review of the SACRE constitution as key achievements. The report also noted strong GCSE results for Wokingham students, significantly higher than the national average. The council agreed to monitor Ofsted inspection outcomes as a standing item at every meeting.

Feedback from Teacher Networks and Training Opportunities

Emily Waddilove reported on recent primary school teacher training sessions, including one for new RE subject leaders and a networking session, both of which received positive feedback. Discussions were ongoing regarding the optimal timing for future training sessions.

Racial Equity Briefing

Philip Theobald commended a recent conference on racial equity delivered by Wokingham Borough Council and requested a briefing on the LA's work in this area for schools. It was agreed that this information would be shared with SACRE.