Agenda item

Lat Blaylock, Consultant RE Today, provided feedback on the Primary and Secondary training held earlier that day.  It was noted that evaluation forms received for primary schools who had attended the training event had been forwarded to Sameena Choudry.  It was noted that further work was required to secure greater attendance by secondary schools.

Action:

1.  Sameena Choudry, Learning Standards and Effectiveness Officer to contact secondary schools to explore their individual training needs.

2.  Sameena Choudry to provide evaluation feedback from those schools that had attended the primary school training to SACRE.

Lat Blaylock tabled a document, as attached at Appendix A that provided an overview of key national developments from RE Today: Spring 2020 Update.  In particular, the following issues were highlighted:-

Guidance on RE and Collective Worship in Academies

It was noted that Wigan and Luton had developed guidance in respect of Collective Worship in Academies.  Mr. Blaylock indicated that he would contact them to seek their permission to share such information with Doncaster SACRE. It was agreed that a paper on this issue be presented to the next meeting.

Action:

1.  Lat Blaylock to contact Wigan and Luton to seek their permission if guidance produced by both Councils in respect of Collective Worship could be shared with Doncaster SACRE.

2.  Sameena Choudry, in consultation with Lat Blaylock to prepare a report in relation to the above issue for the next meeting.

NASACRE National Conference and AGM 2020: Monday, 18th May ‘Authority in RE’

Further to the last meeting, Lat Blaylock requested representation from SACRE to attend the event.  Both Sandra Norburn and Tara Moxon expressed an interest to attend the event.  Members agreed that it would be beneficial to send 2 representatives to the event.

Action:

1.  Sameena Choudry to liaise with Paul Ruane, Head of Learning Provision to determine if funding was available to send 2 SACRE Members (Sandra Norburn, Humanist and Tara Moxon, Teacher representative) to the NASACRE National Conference on 18th May (subject to the necessary approvals).

2.  Sameena Choudry to liaise with Lat Blaylock to ensure wider circulation of details of the NASACRE Conference and AGM 2020 ‘Authority for RE’ event on 18th May, 2020 to schools and to be included on the Council’s Portal system.

Collective Worship in Academies and Free Schools

In connection with this item, Sameena Choudry referred to the possibility of SACRE undertaking a survey of schools to determine among other things, the continuous professional development needs for teachers, those schools that are withdrawing from Collective Worship responsibility, the time being spent on the teaching of RE and for secondary schools those that were delivering RE GCSE studies.

Action: Sameena Choudry to liaise with Lat Blaylock in connection with the above and a report on this issue be included on the agenda for the next meeting.

Timing of SATs Tests in 2021: Applications available for Muslim pupils’

Sameena Choudry reported that Eid-ul-Fitr was likely to be held on the evening of 12th May, 2020 and that this had wider implications as Ramadan would cover the period 8th to 12th May, 2020, during which pupils would also be taking their GCSE exams.  It was agreed that this issue to be communicated to schools from SACRE.

Action:

1.     Sameena Choudry to advise schools of the implications of Ramadan on the schools exam timetable.

2.     Details in relation to the Timing of SATs tests in 2021, be communicated to schools.

Themes for the NATRE Spirited Arts ‘Arts in Heaven’ and ‘Spirited Poetry’ competitions, 2020

Action:

1. the extract as set out above be circulated to all schools for information.

2. Sameena Choudry to liaise with Lat Blaylock to determine the best way to circulate this information to schools.

During discussion, Members requested that an electronic copy of the ‘RE Today National Updates for Spring: 2020’, be circulated to Members of SACRE.

Action: Andrea Hedges to send an electronic copy of the RE Today: National Updates Spring 2020 to Members of SACRE.

AGREED that

(1)      the verbal update from RE Today, be received and noted;

(2)      Sameena Choudry, Learning Standards and Effectiveness Officer to contact secondary schools to explore their individual training needs;

(3)      Sameena Choudry to provide evaluation feedback from those schools that had attended the primary school training to SACRE;

(4)      Lat Blaylock to contact Wigan and Luton to seek their permission as to whether guidance produced by both Wigan and Luton Councils in respect of Collective Worship can be shared with Doncaster SACRE;

(5)      Sameena Choudry, in consultation with Lat Blaylock to prepare a report in relation to guidance for schools on Collective Worship to be included on the agenda for the next meeting;

(6)      Sameena Choudry to liaise with Paul Ruane, Head of Learning Provision to determine if funding is available to send 2 SACRE Members (Sandra Norburn, Humanist and Tara Moxon, Teacher representative) to the NASACRE National Conference on 18th May (subject to the necessary approvals);

(7)      Sameena Choudry to liaise with Lat Blaylock to ensure wider circulation of details of the NASACRE Conference and AGM 2020 ‘Authority for RE’ event on 18th May, 2020 to schools and to be included on the Council’s Portal system;

(8)      Sameena Choudry to liaise with Lat Blaylock for SACRE to undertake a survey of schools to determine among other things, the level of continuous professional development for teachers, those schools that are withdrawing from Collective Worship responsibility; were delivering RE GCSE studies and schools that had applied for dispensations and a report on this issue be included on the agenda for the next meeting;

(9)      Sameena Choudry to advise schools of the implications of Ramadan on the schools exam timetable and the Timing of SATs tests in 2021, be communicated to schools;

(10)   the extract from the RE Today national update Spring:2020, in relation to ‘Themes for the NARTE Spirited Arts ‘Art in Heaven’ an ‘Spirited Poetry’ competitions, 2020’, as attached at Appendix A, be circulated to all schools for information ;

(11)   Sameena Choudry to liaise with Lat Blaylock to determine the best way to circulate the information to schools (as set out above); and

(12)   Andrea Hedges to send an electronic copy of the RE Today: National Updates Spring 2020 be circulated to Members of SACRE.