The Lancashire Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) meeting scheduled for 9 February 2026 was set to cover a range of important topics, including the council's annual report, its development plan for the coming years, and updates on the Agreed Syllabus Conference. The meeting agenda also included discussions on membership, potential project funding, and correspondence received.

Lancashire SACRE Annual Report 2024/25

The meeting was scheduled to consider the Lancashire SACRE Annual Report for 2024/25. This report, a statutory requirement for all SACREs, details the council's activities and achievements during the academic year. It includes contributions from the Chair of Lancashire SACRE, John Wilson, and the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, County Councillor Matthew Salter, highlighting the importance of Religious Education (RE) and the council's role. The report also outlines the meetings held by the SACRE, attendance figures, and the work of the Quality and Standards Committee. Significant sections are dedicated to ethnicity across Lancashire schools, census data on faith and religion, and the progress of the Agreed Syllabus Conference. The report details the provision of Religious Education, including survey results from schools, attainment and standards in RE at primary and secondary levels, and areas for development. It also covers GCSE and KS5 outcomes for Religious Studies, advice provided to the Local Authority, and links with other agencies.

Lancashire SACRE Development Plan 2026-2028

A key item on the agenda was the consideration and approval of the Lancashire SACRE Development Plan for 2026-2028. This plan outlines the SACRE's key priorities for improvement over the two-year period, with targets derived from the NASACRE self-assessment tool. The plan is structured around three key priorities: ensuring effective management and statutory duties, improving the quality of teaching, learning, and assessment in RE, and enhancing the provision of Collective Worship. Each priority is broken down into specific objectives and actions, with designated leads, costs, and monitoring mechanisms. For example, under Key Priority 1, objectives include increasing the visibility of the SACRE, ensuring full member contribution, establishing systems to evaluate RE and Collective Worship quality, building relationships with academies, and collaborating with national agencies. Key Priority 2 focuses on clarifying the roles of RE consultants, developing teachers' pedagogical knowledge, ensuring robust curriculum offers in Voluntary Controlled (VC) schools, developing resources for understanding living religious traditions, monitoring research on worldviews, and providing exemplifications for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Key Priority 3 aims to provide training on inclusive collective worship in line with the Mirrors and Doors guidance.

Lancashire Agreed Syllabus Conference Update

The meeting was also set to receive an update on the Lancashire Agreed Syllabus Conference. This conference has been meeting since October 2024 to review the Lancashire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. The report indicates that the work is well advanced, and members of the conference were expected to provide an update on their progress.

Update on a Potential Project for a Culham St Gabriels Award

An update was scheduled regarding a potential project for a Culham St Gabriels Award. Following a request from the SACRE at a previous meeting, the Quality and Standards Sub-group had considered this matter. An update on their findings and recommendations was to be presented. The information provided about Culham St Gabriels Awards highlights their focus on funding innovative projects that promote understanding of religion and worldviews education, influence policy, empower teachers, and foster collaboration. For 2025-2026, specific focus areas include SEND, Artificial Intelligence, supporting teachers with other specialisms, and those from under-represented backgrounds.

Lancashire SACRE Membership Update

The council was to receive an update on the membership of the Lancashire SACRE. This report details changes in representation, including the filling of vacant positions. Notably, Moulana Naeem, Imam of Quba Mosque in Preston, was reported to have filled one of the vacant positions for Islam. Claire Jubb, an RE teacher and Senior Lecturer at the University of Cumbria, had filled a co-opted position representing the Higher Education Sector. Vacancies remained for Judaism and the Lancashire Governance Association, with responses still awaited.

Other Agenda Items

Other items scheduled for discussion included the minutes of the previous meeting held on 17 November 2025, an update on the Lancashire SACRE website, members' news and feedback from training, contributions from observers, and any correspondence received. The NASACRE North West RE Hub was also due to provide an update from its meeting on 1 December 2025.