Agenda and draft minutes

RECOMMENDED that the minutes of the meeting held on 7th November, 2018 be agreed as a true record.

The Chair informed the Committee that following the meeting he would be standing down as Chair of SACRE but would continue to serve as a SACRE Member.

RECOMMENDED that this information be received and noted and arrangements be made to elect a member of SACRE to the position of Chair for the next meeting.

Sameena Choudry, Learning Standards and Effectiveness Officer delivered a presentation which included an understanding of the role of SACRE, statutory responsibilities, key functions, update on current issues and challenges, supporting the implementation and delivery of the new syllabus, the role of RE Today in supporting SACRE and next steps.

Members were invited to ask questions in respect of the presentation and the following issues were raised:

Members asked how the importance of teaching RE in schools and academies  could be emphasised and reinforced. Lat Blaylock reaffirmed the legal requirement to teach RE in schools stating RE provision should be available to every child in every school unless their parents had agreed that provision be withdrawn.. He also informed the SACRE that changes to the Ofsted inspection regime would mean that more schools would have their RE provision considered as part of the new framework. This was a positive step and the importance of RE in schools would therefore become more prevalent. SACRE had a key role in supporting the quality of RE in schools under these new arrangements.

SACRE asked Lat Blaylock to provide an overview of Religious Education and SACRE in Doncaster, based on his experiences in working with with other local authorities. The meeting was informed that Primary School training on the new syllabus has been well attended and positive feedback had been received from the training. He also confirmed that Doncaster SACRE had a budget and a programme of in service training for teachers which provided an objective and resources.

SACRE discussed priorities for the forthcoming year and the following actions were agreed:

·         Improve engagement activities with secondary school teachers (Sameena Choudry)

It was suggested that a future teacher training session could be held in a secondary school in the Borough to encourage greater engagement with secondary teachers. This focus of the event would be the role of RE in the new inspection framework.

·         Hosting a South Yorkshire RE conference locally to encourage increased take up and interest locally.

·         Ensure membership of SACRE is enhancedand outstanding vacancies filled. (Andrew Sercombe)

The meeting was informed that arrangements were in place to send out letters to various groups.

·         Future Work

• Assessments to and identify outcomes and effectiveness of the new syllabus.
• Drafting of an annual report on the work of SACRE.

• Establish a data base of RE teachers to be contacted directly in respect of RE issues including availability of training and resources.

• Raising the profile of RE locally and identifying the extent to which the RE syllabus is being used.

• Members discussed online surveys for schools and the Civic Mayor’s award scheme.

RECOMMENDED that:-

1)    An Action Plan be drafted for presentation to the next SACRE with SMART targets;  and

2)      milestones detailing future actions for developing SACRE and the effective provision of RE in Doncaster schools. (Sameena Choudry)

Lat Blaylock presented the Summer update to Members for information.

RECOMMENDED that the next meetings of SACRE be held on:-

·         Thursday, 21st November, 2019 at 4.30 pm at the Civic Office.

·         Thursday 27th February 2019 at 4.30pm at the Civic Office

·         Thursday 27th June 2019 at 4.30pm at the Civic Office.