The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) is scheduled to meet virtually on Thursday, 18 June 2026. The meeting agenda includes discussions on school determinations for collective worship, updates on SACRE membership and its workplan, and national and local developments in Religious Education.

Collective Worship and Determinations

A significant portion of the meeting is dedicated to considering applications for school determinations regarding collective worship. The council will review applications from Stanhope Primary School and Lady Margaret Primary School. These schools are seeking to lift or modify the requirement for their collective worship to be wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character. The report pack details the schools' current religious affiliations, their proposed approaches to collective worship and reflection, and how they plan to safeguard the interests of parents who may prefer Christian-based reflection.

Stanhope Primary School is seeking a renewal of its determination, highlighting its inclusive, values-driven assembly programme. Lady Margaret Primary School, also seeking a renewal, notes that its community reflects significant religious, cultural, and non-religious diversity, and that a broadly Christian approach would not appropriately reflect the majority of its pupils and families. The council will also review an updated list of all school determinations currently in place across the borough.

SACRE Membership and Workplan

The council will receive an update on the SACRE membership for 2025-2026, noting any current vacancies and reviewing the representation across different religious denominations and educational groups. Alongside this, the SACRE Workplan for 2025-2026 will be presented, outlining the planned reports and agenda items for the year's meetings and the responsibilities for their provision.

National and Local Updates in Religious Education

Updates are scheduled on national and local developments relating to Religious Education. This includes information on a national review of Religious Education, which is considering its potential inclusion in the national curriculum and ways to achieve greater consistency and accountability. Discussions are expected to cover challenges in RE, such as teacher recruitment and training, and the impact of national policies on financial incentives for RE teacher training. The role of RE Hubs and the importance of Interfaith Week will also be highlighted. The council will also hear about the work of Ealing's first Farmington Scholars, Charlotte Lannigan and Juran Hakim, who will present their research on primary RE curriculum design and the impact of inclusive representation on pupils' identity and sense of belonging.

Agreed Syllabus Update and Farmington Scholars

The meeting will include an update on the Ealing Agreed Syllabus Conference, focusing on the progress of its review and next steps for implementation. This update will likely touch upon the ongoing national curriculum and assessment review, which is considering the future status of RE within the national curriculum. The council will also hear presentations from Charlotte Lannigan and Juran Hakim, Ealing's Farmington Scholars, who have been undertaking research related to Religious Education within the borough. Charlotte Lannigan's research focuses on primary RE curriculum design, while Juran Hakim's study explores how inclusive representation in the RE curriculum impacts pupils' identity and sense of belonging.