Agenda item

-       Interfaith week update (Report: Inter Faith Week Consultation - The Faith & Belief Forum

-       Update on the curriculum review and RE’s inclusion in a new National Curriculum (Curriculum and Assessment Review: interim report - GOV.UK

-       Wire Awards - Submissions from Ditton Infant School and Lady Boswell’s Primary School

Interfaith Week Update

1.     Mrs Smith-Orr advised that a report on the findings of the Government’s consultation regarding its support of Interfaith Week had been published.  The report suggested that consideration should be given to moving the week from its traditional timing in November.  Mrs Smith-Orr added that the Government had disbanded Interfaith UK, who previously organised the week, however individuals and organisations continued to hold the week last year and were planning on doing so again in November 2026.  The event was being supported by the Faith and Belief Forum, who had stepped in to replace Interfaith UK.  They worked hard to promote the event with lots of useful resources for schools and other event organisers.

Update on the curriculum review and RE’s inclusion in a new National Curriculum

2.     Mrs Smith-Orr confirmed that she had responded to the Government’s consultation with the points that SACRE members had shared with her.  The interim report had been published and only briefly referred to religious education.

3.     During consideration of the item the following points were raised:

·       There seemed to be widespread support for the introduction of a national framework for RE from those attending the recent NASACRE Conference.

·       A national framework could help to make some schools take the provision of RE more seriously and could help to reduce disparities in the quality of RE provision between schools.  However, it was important to ensure that the framework was flexible enough to meet the needs of different types of schools.

·       The final report was expected to be released in November 2025.

·       Some Members suggested that the introduction of a national framework maybe beneficial, but the syllabus should continue to be agreed at a more local level as those living in the area were best placed to decide what should be taught.

·       SACRE’s were formed in 1988, this changed the teaching of RE to include all religions. More recently RE teaching has evolved to consider world views and many syllabuses look to identify the similarities and differences between faiths.  

·       A good syllabus helps to develop understanding and tolerance of others with different faiths and beliefs.  The Kent syllabus is one of the most broad ranging and inclusive syllabuses available to schools.

·       Mrs Smith-Orr offered to circulate the Kent syllabus to the new members of the SACRE.

The WIRE Awards

4.     Mrs Smith-Orr provided a bit of background information about the WIRE Award, advising that schools could pay £500 to apply for an RE Quality Mark from the Religious Education Council of England and Wales.  However, in light of school budget limitations, some SACRE’s, including Kent, ran the WIRE Award as a free alternative.  The WIRE award had four categories that were intended to raise the profile of RE in schools.  Schools collect evidence over a year then submit what they have done for assessment. 

5.     It was RESOLVED that the submissions from both Ditton Infant School and Lady Boswell’s Primary School had met the threshold to receive the WIRE award.

6.     Mr Dixon and Mr Paul offered to present the Award to Ditton Infant School and Mrs Smith-Orr offered to present the award to Lady Boswell’s Primary School.