The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) of Newham Council met on Wednesday 4th February 2026 to discuss the annual report, priorities for the upcoming year, and student RE matters. Key decisions included the agreement of the 2025-2026 SACRE priorities and noting the findings from the NASACRE publication on annual reports.

Annual Report 2024-25 Discussion

The council reviewed the Newham SACRE Annual Report for 2024-25. The report highlighted that Religious Education (RE) in Newham remains a strong area of provision, with 94% of schools judging their RE provision as good or outstanding. Withdrawal from RE lessons is extremely rare, with only 23 pupils out of 54,721 recorded as withdrawn. GCSE Religious Studies outcomes in Newham continue to outperform national averages, with 38% achieving grades 9-7 compared to England's 32%. A-level Religious Studies outcomes were also exceptional, significantly above national averages. Collective Worship (CW) was also noted as a strong and compliant area, with 92% of schools judging it as good or outstanding. The report also detailed findings from the first large-scale pupil survey on RE, involving over 1,250 pupils, which indicated that pupils value RE for exploring beliefs, discussing moral and social issues, and understanding those different from themselves. The findings from this survey will directly shape the next Agreed Syllabus review.

2025-2026 SACRE Priorities Update

SACRE reviewed and agreed the draft priorities for the 2025-2026 academic year. These priorities include the preparation for the next Agreed Syllabus review, which is set to begin in January 2026. Continued focus will be placed on high-quality non-examined RE at Key Stage 4 and 5, targeted support for schools where monitoring indicates a need, and sustained professional development and interfaith engagement. The council also noted the findings from the recent NASACRE publication, which analysed annual reports from 2023-24.

Student RE Report

The council received an update on the Belief in Action interdisciplinary project, which aims to give students an opportunity to investigate, reflect upon, and articulate the practical, societal impact of religious and non-religious worldviews on the local community. The project focuses on understanding how foundational beliefs translate into tangible, supportive actions through practical examples such as food banks and playgroups. The second meeting for this project took place on 4th November, with attending schools visiting places of worship to research how religions and worldviews support their local communities. Key outcomes included heightened social awareness among students, developed communication skills, and the initiation of research into local charities set up by religious and non-religious worldviews. The project goals include exploring how worldviews are put into action locally, identifying resources in Newham, and producing an information sheet about local charities for school use.

Faith Forum - Interfaith Supper

The agenda included a standing item on the Faith Forum, specifically an interfaith supper. While not detailed in the provided documents, this indicates ongoing engagement with interfaith dialogue and community building activities.

Monitoring Forms for 2026

The council was presented with monitoring forms for 2026, designed for both secondary and primary schools. These forms aim to gather information on the provision of RE and Collective Worship, including teaching hours, exam entries, staff qualifications, and self-assessed quality ratings. The forms also inquire about pupil withdrawals from RE and CW, training received by staff and governors, and any support required from SACRE. The data collected from these forms will be used to inform SACRE's ongoing work and support for schools.

CaAR Next Steps

The agenda item CaAR next steps suggests a discussion or update on a specific initiative or project, likely related to the council's work in Religious Education or Collective Worship. Further details would be required to elaborate on this topic.

Other Business and Date of Next Meeting

Under Any other business, the council would have discussed any additional matters raised by members. The date of the next meeting was to be confirmed.