The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) met on Monday 22 June 2026 to discuss feedback from the National Association of SACREs (NASACRE) conference, updates on faith trails, and future meeting dates. The council noted the ongoing review of Religious Education (RE) within the national curriculum and discussed its implications for local SACREs.

NASACRE Conference Feedback

SACRE members received feedback from the NASACRE conference held on 18 May 2026. The conference focused on the theme Rejoicing in Difference: SACREs' Role in Building Social Harmony. Professor Vanessa Ogden, a keynote speaker, highlighted the nation-building role of schools and the importance of RE in fostering social cohesion, particularly in response to antisemitism and anti-Muslim hostility. She emphasised that RE is an academic subject that provides essential knowledge of diversity and difference, and that SACREs play a crucial role in supporting this by engaging with local communities and places of worship. Professor Ogden also discussed the ongoing Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR) and the potential for RE to be integrated into the National Curriculum.

Deborah Weston OBE, chair of the REC policy unit, provided an update on the CAR proposals for RE. She noted that RE is currently under threat, with declining GCSE numbers and challenges faced by some SACREs. The RE Council (REC) has been working with various groups to develop a clear position on the future of RE, and the government has responded positively to the CAR work. While there has been no public announcement yet, it is intended that RE will be part of the public consultation for the National Curriculum. The process of moving RE into the National Curriculum would require primary legislation. Questions were raised about the future role of SACREs if RE is included in the National Curriculum, GCSE reforms, NASACRE's involvement in the consultation, and the timeline for potential changes. It was noted that the inclusion of the phrase objective, critical and pluralistic in the draft RE programmes of study might impact the right of withdrawal in the future.

Amy Ark, Senior Programme Manager for Schools at the Faith and Belief Forum, presented on Connection over division: lived experience, belonging and RE in social cohesion. She explained the forum's interfaith and anti-racist approach, based on social contact theory, which aims to reduce unkindness by bringing pupils together in positive ways. Ark highlighted the current climate of division and polarisation, the weaponisation of belonging, and the need for solidarity. She emphasised that RE is vital for building empathy, respect, critical thinking, and the ability to navigate difference, and that it directly studies belief systems and explores identity. The Faith and Belief Forum's work encourages safe, brave, and shared spaces for dialogue, and their parental engagement project has received positive feedback.

Faith Trails Update

Angela Rundle, SACRE Officer, provided an update on the faith trails. This term, there were 18 slots for nine trails across Balham, Wimbledon, Tooting, and Southfields. Unfortunately, due to a forecast heatwave, the trails scheduled for that week were cancelled, and there was insufficient time to rearrange them for later in the academic year. Details of the Community Faith Trail would be shared with schools, particularly those unable to participate in the cancelled events. The Balham trail, which had already taken place, was well-received, with school staff appreciating the accessibility of the venues. Mrs. Rundle is investigating the possibility of a Battersea Trail for the following year.

Community Faith Trail Update

Posters for the Community Faith Trail, scheduled for Saturday 18 July, were distributed. The trail, which aims to explore faith, culture, and community across Tooting and Balham, would start at the Khalsa Centre and finish at Balham Mandir. A suggested donation of £5 was proposed to support the Mayor of Wandsworth's chosen charity, with the payment not being mandatory to ensure accessibility. The trail would visit various places of worship, including a gurdwara, mosques, churches, and a mandir. SACRE members were asked to volunteer as stewards and first aiders for the event. Risk assessments were shared, and first aid kits and water would be available at each venue. The local neighbourhood Police Team had been informed, and advice was given to contact the Counter Terrorism Police Unit. Advertising for the event had been widely shared with schools, libraries, and other venues.

Future Meeting Dates

The SACRE meetings scheduled for 2026/27 were noted: Monday 2 November 2026 at All Saints' CE Primary School, Putney Common, and Monday 15 March 2027, with the venue to be confirmed. Ms. Coussins offered Wimbledon Synagogue as a potential venue for the March meeting. It was noted that the 2 November meeting clashed with All Souls' Day, a Christian religious festival, but an alternative date was not possible. A request was made to schedule the summer 2027 date soon.

Other Business

New members were welcomed to the SACRE WhatsApp group as an additional communication tool. Members of the Multi-Faith Forum indicated they would ascertain the group's remit with the new Mayor and share this information with SACRE.