NASACRE are aware that there have been some organisations who appear to have used the NASACRE contacts Database to mail all SACREs with their views about the potential inclusion of RE in the National Curriculum. We believe that this may be in contravention of our privacy policy and, if they are holding your data without your permission, a breach of GDPR laws. NASACRE are contacting those organisations to ensure that they are aware that they may not hold your data without your permission. 

To prevent this happening in the future, we are removing the contact emails of chairs and advisers from the public facing database. The Clerk/LA officer emails will remain visible, and we would like to remind you that these should not be personal emails, but LA/SACRE addresses. 

In the communications received from Academy Learning and Christian Concern there appear to be some inaccuracies: 

Firstly, they assert that SACREs have not been involved in the production of the proposed Programmes of Study that form part of the report delivered to the Secretary of State by Dr Vanessa Ogden. As you now from NASACRE’s frequent updates, this is not accurate.  All SACREs were invited to an online event with Dr Ogden in March. In addition, Dr Ogden was a keynote speaker at our conference in May. SACRE members were part of the Faith and Belief reference group, and the Teacher Group, both of which were able to feed into the developing Programmes of Study. These groups were given significant chance to feedback and suggest changes to the proposals. Dr Ogden was, throughout the process, willing to be contacted by email and responded to such enquiries. 

Secondly, they assert that the identity of those who drafted the Programmes of Study was not disclosed to the wider Reference Groups. Again, this is inaccurate. At every reference group meeting, or public meeting where the proposals were discussed it was clear that the drafting had been led by Dr Richard Kueh and Deborah Weston. 

Thirdly, they question the reaching of a consensus; consensus means a general or widespread agreement. The Secretary of State, after hearing from many interested parties, including all the major faith and belief groups, has judged that there is indeed widespread agreement. That some individuals are unhappy does not affect a consensus. 

It is important to note that, in line with DfE usual practice, copies of drafts and documents were not distributed, and the content of the proposed Programmes of Study (PoS) was confidential within the meetings. It was made very clear that what is in, or not in, the proposed PoS should not be shared more widely. Therefore, any individual or organisation who is claiming to know the content of the PoS is potentially breaching that confidence, or may have inaccurate perceptions. 

We are expecting the Government to launch a public consultation on the proposed changes to the National Curriculum this autumn. We have not been informed of the date, or the form that the consultation will take. It is vital that SACREs are ready to engage with the government’s proposals when they are published, and respond to that consultation.  NASACRE Executive are intending to respond to the consultation and issued a statement in March supporting Dr Ogden’s proposals. 

NASACRE Chairs, September 2026