The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) meeting scheduled for 26 February 2026 was set to cover a range of topics concerning religious education and collective worship in Lewisham schools. Key discussions were anticipated to include updates on safeguarding, national guidance on collective worship, analysis of public examination results in Religious Education, and the draft SACRE Annual Report for 2025.

Safeguarding Update

A significant item on the agenda was a safeguarding update. This was scheduled to address the implications of Martyn's Law, which requires schools and places of worship to assess and implement additional protective measures against potential terrorist threats. The report pack indicated that this would become mandatory by April 2026, and the discussion was expected to cover procedures for places of worship, particularly those with creches, and the availability of training from the organisation SAFE by Community Safety Trust.

Data Report on 2025 Public Examinations and RE Teaching Hours

The meeting was scheduled to review a comprehensive data report on 2025 public examinations in Religious Education (RE) for Lewisham schools. This report, which included analysis of GCSE and A Level results, highlighted trends in entry rates, performance gaps, and variations across different demographic groups such as gender, ethnicity, and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Alongside this, a report on RE teaching hours for Lewisham schools, based on the November 2024 school workforce census, was to be presented. This data aimed to provide insights into the time allocated to RE teaching, which directly impacts exam results.

Draft SACRE Annual Report 2025

The council was expected to consider the draft SACRE Annual Report for 2025. This report would likely summarise the council's activities and achievements throughout the year, including its work on supporting RE and collective worship, engagement with national initiatives, and contributions to community cohesion. The report pack also included confirmation of attendance data for 2025, which would form part of the annual review.

SMSC Self-Evaluation Tool

A key item for discussion was the SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural) Self-Evaluation tool for schools. This tool is designed to help schools monitor and improve their provision for pupils' SMSC development, with a particular focus on social cohesion and British Values. The report pack provided detailed guidance on the tool, outlining its purpose, the legal requirements it addresses, and questions for schools to consider regarding spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development. It also referenced Ofsted's expectations for personal development and well-being, including the promotion of fundamental British values such as democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

NASACRE Conference and AGM

The agenda included a discussion regarding attendance at the NASACRE (National Association of SACREs) Conference and AGM. The report pack provided details of the conference, including keynote speakers and delegate costs, and highlighted the importance of SACREs in supporting RE and fostering community cohesion. It also detailed various NASACRE news items, webinars, and resources relevant to SACREs across England.

Correspondence and Information Exchange

The meeting was scheduled to address correspondence, including a Freedom of Information (FOI) request and its answer. Additionally, under Information Exchange & AOB (Any Other Business), several points were listed for discussion: Conversations with No 10 by Councillor Aliya Sheikh, the SACRE Information leaflet, and Ramadan Advice that had been previously circulated.

National Information - DfE Guidance on Collective Worship

The council was set to receive national information regarding Department for Education (DfE) guidance on collective worship. This would likely cover the legal requirements and best practices for providing collective worship in schools.

Matters Arising from Previous Minutes

Several items were listed as matters arising from the minutes of the previous SACRE meeting held on 25 November 2025, which were not on the main agenda. These included the Mayor's carol service, Holocaust Memorial Day, Tamil Hindu Celebrations, the Young Mayor's project, updates on the Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAAR) and its impact on the Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC), and the circulation of schools' mailings to subject leaders.

Welcomes and Introductions

The meeting was scheduled to begin with welcomes and introductions. This included a welcome to Lewisham's Chief Executive, Jennifer Daothong, who was to be introduced by Anthony Doudle. Apologies for absence were to be noted, along with any membership updates from Stephen Sealy, and the confirmation of the order of items for the meeting.

Date of Next Meeting

Finally, the date of the next meeting was to be confirmed. It was noted that the meeting scheduled for Monday 27 April 2026 had been cancelled, with the next meeting planned for 17 June, potentially at the Catford Hindu Temple.