Agenda item

SACRE AGM report

The Chair, Reverend Tom McCready presented a brief report in relation to his attendance at the NASACRE AGM in London on the 17th May, 2016. He stated that he found the meeting was very informative, encouraging and a worthwhile event. It was noted that 50% of those eligible SACREs were in attendance.

The Keynote speakers were Baroness Elizabeth Butler-Sloss and Professor Adam Dinham. He stated that he had participated in discussions with other attendees and reported that following those conversations there were questions that the SACRE could consider which were as follows:-

1.         At the primary school level pupils do not only learn about different beliefs, cultures and traditions from their parents and their teachers:      they learn from each other. Is there an effective way to acknowledge            and encourage this?

2.         At the secondary, F.E. and H.E. level, Religious Education is not just about differing beliefs and practices but about using the world’s religions and their wisdom traditions to frame serious ethical and philosophical questions? and

3.         There is still considerable resistance among some members of some faith groups to have more engagement with other faith groups, even though all the main leaders of the faith groups encourage engagement on terms of friendship and respect. How do we address this? Is it part of our job to address this?

The Chair presented Members with a paper submitted by the Vice-Chair

Mr Bruce Gillham. It highlighted a proposal for facilitating the involvement

of  pupils directly in resourcing the Moral Curriculum.

Members were asked to consider the following:-

Launching and funding, from slim resources, a pupil-centred media

competition, for example by encouraging the production of:

·         Video interview tapes of investigations and analysis moral questions, with staff and pupil inputs;

·         Production of short plays intended for specific purposes and covering the key dimensions of moral decision-making within a multi-faith and multi-cultural context;

·         Written compilations of wise sayings from the under 16’s designed to support creative approaches to the fostering of moral and ethical issues in school;

·         Guidance notes for government from pupils about the place of moral education in the school system

It was noted that all of these ideas could be explored but not necessarily presented in conjunction with religious standpoints. They might be designed for distribution and dissemination via mobile phones, Facebook, Twitter as well as more conventional dissemination via school usage and existing networks.

Members were advised that such materials would be expected to generate energetic debate and rational thinking about community relations and good behaviour.

Members welcomed the proposal made by Bruce and felt that it would be beneficial to first look at ways in which engagement can be made with pupils without the requirement of funding. It was suggested that a proposal for funding might in the future be made through NASACRE/West Hill Awards Scheme. It was noted that another SACRE had received funding for a similar project 6 years ago. Members recognised the importance of early engagement with pupils and if more people were to see the work of SACRE more responses would be received.

            RECOMMENDED that:-

(1)        the paper presented by the Chair on his attendance at           NASACRE AGM be noted

(2)        the response and proposal presented by Bruce Gillham be    supported and a further detailed presentation on the proposals         be submitted to a future meeting