Agenda item

Members received a report which detailed the core key functions of SACRE required to be undertaken during the course of the year –including: reviewing the agreed syllabus, submission of an annual report and identifying a way to monitor the effectiveness of RE in schools. The Committee acknowledged that the work programme should be focused on a small number of essential key activities that could be undertaken effectively within existing resources.

Agreed Syllabus Conference

The Clerk referred to recent enquiries he had made in respect of developing an Agreed Syllabus which would be a key piece of work for the SACRE to completed by 2018 and the following issues were raised:

·         In recognising the pressures on teaching staff Members identified the importance of a syllabus that was supported with resources, work schemes and assessment tools that would assist teachers with varying levels of experience in delivering a consistent standard of RE throughout all key stages.

·         Members supported a targeted approach to RE between primary and secondary, rather than a generic one size fits all approach. Members suggested that particularly in primary schools there was likely to be less RE specialism and both provision and resources would need to be tailored to meet this need.

Following the general discussion members considered 3 potential options flor reviewing the Agreed Syllabus presented by the Clerk:

1.    Commission a review and new syllabus from a consultant to be written over the course of the next year. There could be opportunities to share costs with other local authorities who were also developing a new syllabus.

Whilst this would provide a very focused fit for purpose syllabus it was seen as an expensive option. The Committee also had concerns about the support that would be available to assist in the delivery of the syllabus once it was agreed.

2.    Adopt a syllabus from a neighbouring authority. This would be cheaper than a rewrite of the current Doncaster Council syllabus, would be up to date with the latest guidance and could include a primary scheme of work. Negotiations would need to take place in terms of sharing the intellectual property but this would be cheaper than option 1.

The Committee recognised the advantages in adopting a similar model that was up and running in terms of identifying effectiveness. Also this was seen as potentially more cost effective than Option 1.

3.    Buy in to a national offer for LAs from RE Today. RE Today currently franchise a ‘Model Agreed Syllabus’ to 17 local authorities . This is an ‘off the peg’ solution to the issue of revision, and has a complete scheme of work with it which some SACRE provide for their schools, or which schools can buy. This is franchised on a school-by-school basis.

Members identified that the franchised model would provide greater flexibility and opportunities for using existing resources such as assessment and evaluation tools which would support teachers in the delivery of RE provision. This would also provide an opportunity to identify and share good practice from a range of schools.

The Group recognised that each option had its own merits and disadvantages which needed to be explored further to ensure a clearer understanding of the flexibilities and effectiveness of each option. It was agreed that a sub group be established to consider the options and report back to SACRE with a recommendation. The Clerk agreed to invite a consultant from RE today to discuss the options with the group.

Monitoring the Delivery of RE in Schools

In recognising the requirement to monitor the effectiveness of RE in schools Members raised the following issues:

·         Members identified that measuring the impact, value and effectiveness of RE in schools was challenging as this went beyond the outcome of exam results to include issues such as understanding and exhibiting moral issues, values and principles. Members discussed the importance of understanding and measuring the quality of RE provision in schools.

·         There may be an opportunity to engage with schools once an agreed syllabus is available by attending training days and highlighting the resources available.

·         Use the opportunity of grant funding such as the Westhill Grant to access resources for education into diversity.

                        RECOMMENDED that

1.            The following issues be scheduled on to the                 Committee’s Work Programme:

·             Review of the agreed syllabus

·             Agree and publish an Annual Report

·             Monitor and review the provision of RE and                              collective worship in schools.

2.             A sub group be established to consider further the                              options for progressing the approach to an Agreed                                Syllabus and to report back to the SACRE  on a                              potential option.

3.             The sub group consist of Reverend Tom                                          McCready, Tom Griffiths, Richard Iball, Sandra                                     Norburn, Alec Depledge plus one representative                             from Committee D (local authority).

4.              All SACRE members be informed of the date of                                   the sub group meeting and be given an opportunity                                     to attend.

5.             The Clerk contact the relevant consultant with a                                   view to meeting the sub group in December to                                             discuss the options and flexibilities of undertaking                                a review of the current syllabus.