The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) of Northumberland Council met on 10 June 2026. Key decisions included the election of R Cant as Vice-Chair and the agreement of the minutes from the meeting held on 4 February 2026. Future plans include developing a Westhill funding bid and creating an excellence award for schools.

Presentation on Religious Education Resources

David Priestley, Director of the North East Religious Resources Centre, presented on the resources available to schools. He highlighted the importance of high-quality religious education (RE) in fostering understanding of different worldviews and improving teacher confidence. The centre offers loan boxes of resource materials and is developing its virtual offerings to overcome geographical limitations. Members thanked Mr. Priestley for his presentation.

Election of Vice-Chair

R Cant was elected as the Vice-Chair of SACRE. As R Cant was the sole nominee, a vote was not required.

Work in Progress Updates

Members received updates on several ongoing initiatives:

• Update of Contacts with Schools and Training Provision: C Weir reported on discussions with teachers regarding the Award for Excellence in RE, the Summer RE network, and support for a school seeking training on disciplinary knowledge. Feedback from RE networks indicated a desire for specific training in the next academic year and suggestions on how SACRE could provide support.
• NASACRE Conference: C Dixon shared insights from the NASACRE conference, focusing on the role of SACREs in building harmony and addressing social fault lines. Keynote speakers Professor Vanessa Ogden and Amy Ark discussed the importance of schools in nation-building and fostering a sense of belonging. Workshops covered SACRE's role in local communities and supporting collective worship.
• SACRE Development Plan: The council reviewed the 2025-26 development plan, noting that a new plan for the upcoming academic year would be created. Progress on existing objectives was discussed, including contributions to the RE Hubs website, member engagement in meetings, and the evaluation of SACRE's webpage. The survey to teaching staff regarding training needs and curriculum review was reported as completed, with follow-up actions in progress. Plans to develop a proposal for a Westhill funding bid, an excellence award, and materials for collective worship were noted as ongoing.
• Survey to Schools: Analysis of the survey data revealed areas where teachers require subject knowledge upskilling, particularly in Christianity and Judaism. The survey also highlighted the need for resources on engaging parents and guardians in RE, especially concerning visits to religious venues. The possibility of organising a conference for teachers to discuss their views further was raised and will be added to the 2026-27 development plan.
• Excellence in RE Award: A draft application form for the Excellence in RE Award was circulated. The award aims to recognise good practice in schools and reward teachers. The process involves schools submitting applications, which are then scrutinised by an assessment team before an RE advisor visits the school. Members were invited to volunteer or provide suggestions for the award.
• Support for Collective Worship: C Dixon and R Cant presented a resource designed to assist schools with daily acts of collective worship or assemblies. The plan is structured by terms, offers diverse approaches, and is accessible to both faith-based and non-faith-based schools. The materials will be available via email and on SACRE's webpages.
• Westhill Funding Bid: J Miller explained the Westhill Award, which provides funding for SACREs to run RE projects. Northumberland SACRE is considering a bid for a project provisionally titled Believing Without a Building. The bid aims to explore the religious and worldview landscape in Northumberland, given the county's limited diversity in places of worship. Teachers would be trained to conduct research and engage with local communities. Further details on the bid will be discussed at the next meeting.
• Interfaith Week and Holocaust Memorial Day: Members noted the upcoming Interfaith Week (8-15 November 2026) and Holocaust Memorial Day (27 January 2027) and expressed a desire to be involved in supporting related events.

Examination Results 2025

Members reviewed the examination results for Religious Education in 2025. At Key Stage 4, while Northumberland's results remained below the national average, there were year-on-year improvements. A concern was noted regarding the number of schools that did not enter any pupils for RE exams. For Key Stage 5, Northumberland's results exceeded national averages for A-C and A-E grades, with year-on-year improvements also observed.

Dates of Future Meetings

The dates for future SACRE meetings for the academic years 2026-27 and 2027-28 were noted and agreed. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 18 November 2026.