The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) of Worcestershire Council met on Thursday 4 June 2026 to discuss national developments in Religious Education, including potential changes to the National Curriculum. The council also reviewed updates from members and local groups, and considered future meeting dates.

National News and Curriculum Developments

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to focus on national news concerning Religious Education (RE). This included an update on the Curriculum and Assessment Review, which had recommended that RE become part of the National Curriculum. The report pack indicated that draft Programmes of Study had been developed, with a timeline suggesting their inclusion in the draft National Curriculum in spring 2027, for implementation from September 2028. This development was noted as having a significant impact on the role of SACREs.

The council was also scheduled to consider the implications of the EBacc and accountability measures on RE. The report pack highlighted concerns that proposed changes to Progress 8 and Attainment 8 might negatively impact GCSE Religious Studies entries, despite the subject being included in the Humanities breadth category. Worcestershire SACRE's response to a consultation on these changes was included, expressing opposition to adding science to the 'breadth' category, arguing it would skew incentives away from humanities and RE.

Further discussion was anticipated regarding a new cross-government publication, Protecting What Matters: Towards a more confident, cohesive and resilient United Kingdom, which explicitly links RE to social cohesion and commits to driving up standards in its teaching. The paper also signalled a potential inclusion of RE in the national curriculum, subject to sector consensus, and recognised the role of SACREs at a national level.

Conferences and Teacher Support

The meeting was scheduled to include an update on planning for primary and secondary conferences. The Primary Conference was planned for 3 June 2026, with a venue yet to be confirmed, and would be supported by Lat Blaylock and Stephen Pett. The Secondary Conference was confirmed for 30 June 2026 at the University of Worcester, with confirmed speakers including Karen Steele, focusing on GCSE teaching.

The report pack also detailed various training and support initiatives for RE teachers. This included information on RE Hubs, upcoming RE Today courses, and NATRE (National Association of Teachers of RE) events. The NATRE Primary RE Survey was also highlighted, encouraging teachers to participate to ensure their experiences were heard by government and Ofsted.

Local Updates and Future Meetings

An update from members and local groups was scheduled, which would include reports on activities and concerns from various representatives. This was expected to cover topics such as promoting local speakers for RE Hubs, addressing antisemitism, and ensuring accurate teaching of Judaism.

The council was also due to discuss future meeting dates, with Monday 5 October 2026 and Monday 8 March 2027 listed as potential future meeting dates.

Statutory Responsibilities and SACRE Role

A document within the report pack provided an overview of Local Councillor Support for Religious Education: Statutory Responsibilities, Community Confidence and National Developments. This outlined the statutory responsibilities of local authorities for RE and collective worship, including the establishment and support of SACREs and the convening of Agreed Syllabus Conferences. It also detailed the structure of SACREs, comprising four representative groups, and the role of elected members in bringing a democratic and civic perspective to discussions. The document emphasised the continued importance of SACREs in supporting local implementation, advising councils, maintaining local relationships, and providing local expertise, particularly within the context of an increasingly academised education system. The legal position of RE, which balances the historic place of Christianity with the diversity of modern Britain, was also noted.