Agenda and minutes

• Welcome and Introductions
• The Chair will agree the order of business
• Apologies for absence

The Chair welcomed members of SACRE to the meeting and agreed the order of business.

Members of SACRE are required to declare any interests in relation to any business on the agenda. Advice for Members is attached.

There were no declaration of interests.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2010.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2010 were agreed as a correct record.

Matters arising:

Item 4 – Advisors Report.

Caroline Stone informed SACRE that the govenors twilight sessions had been commissioned for 8 June 2011.

Claire Clinton informed SACRE that VA schools RE & ACW were evaluated and monitored by the diocese, whilst VC schools RE was monitored by the Local Authority, and their ACW was monitored by the diocese.

Application to SACRE for a determination from Stratford Foundation School

SACRE received a presentation from Lynda Nixon, Deputy Head Teacher at Stratford School, on the provision of Religious Education (RE) and Acts of Collective Worship (ACW), in support of their application for determination. 

Details of the school’s themes for assembly, along with evidence of consultation with the governing body, students, parents, staff and faith communities, were submitted for consideration.

Lynda Nixon informed SACRE that RE was very important at Stratford school and that the School offered daily reflection as part of their morning registrations, using songs, prayers and visual images.  They are called 'daily reflections' rather than 'Acts of Collective Worship’ to make sure that they are fully inclusive.

SACRE queried how much time was spent on their daily reflections as it was incorporated with registrations and were informed that about 5 minutes were dedicated to their daily reflections.

Lynda stated the parents are generally supportive and that she has not received any requests to withdraw from ACW.  The school is not in favour of holding different sessions for collective reflection.

Each Panel separated to consider their vote, which was recorded as follows:

Local Authority Panel: In Favour

Church of England Panel: In Favour

Other Faiths Panel: In Favour

Teachers Panel: In Favour

Decision

SACRE agreed to grant that application for determination to Stratford School.

Update on Student SACRE

Claire Clinton gave a presentation on the work of student SACRE. Claire informed SACRE that student SACRE were working with Middlesex University and a professional artist on sculptures following the successful bid for £5000 grant from NASACRE. The sculptures had been completed and they were all poses reflecting the student’s sense of belonging.

Six Student SACRE members and a teacher from St Angela’s would be going to Birmingham to present their sculptures on the 11 May at NASACRE AGM.

Decision

SACRE noted the presentation.

Update by Caroline Stone on CYPS future organisation of SACRE

Caroline Stone gave a presentation on the future organisation of SACRE. Caroline stated that CYPS were reviewing the Local Authority (LA) statutory duties and these according to NASACRE were to establish a SACRE and an agreed syllabus conference (ASC) to ensure high quality RE for all pupils and support both bodies. Caroline expanded on the LA’s duty as set out in the Education Reform Act 1988 s11 (Appendix 1).

Caroline stated that the LA would maintain the role of supporting and challenging schools, but would commission services when a need was identified. A new 0-19 Achievement Team would undertake this role. The Group Manager would be responsible to ensuring that the statutory requirements of RE were fulfilled.

It was proposed that:

1.  The new agreed syllabus would be launched to schools and SACRE in March 2011

2.  Schools would commission support and advice to ensure high quality delivery of the agreed syllabus from a CPD provider or from other schools

3.  The LA would commission advice and support for SACRE. This would amount to 6-10 days per year

4.  The LA would further commission RE advice when key documents were required to be written and reviewed, for example, the annual report

5.  The Place of Worship Week and Junior and Student SACREs would cease to be operated by the LA.

Caroline then went on to look at the priorities for RE/SACRE from 2010-11, focusing on all the priorities that are statutory and how they would exist following the review.

SACRE was keen to continue with all their priorities and wondered how else the various priorities could be funded. There were several suggestions on how local faith group and schools could assist with coordinating the various events such as Place of Worship week and Junior SACRE.

Decision

SACRE noted the presentation.

Report by Claire Clinton

Claire presented a report which detailed her activities, she stated that the monitoring and reviewing process for RE and ACW had been agreed.

Claire informed SACRE that the Place of Worship celebration event would take place on 24 March 2011 at East Ham Town Hall and that she had started training teachers on the new agreed syllabus and the training had been received well.

Claire also asked SACRE member who would be willing to judge the POW celebration at the end of April 2011 to contact her.  Claire also invited all SACRE members to be present at the prize giving event on the 25th May 2011 at Elmhurst School from 4:30-6:00pm.

Decision

SACRE agreed

1. to note the report; and

2. for members to speak to Claire about judge the celebrating RE event.

Invite to the NASACRE 2011 AGM on 11 May in Birmingham

SACRE was informed of the upcoming NASACRE AGM.

Decision

SACRE agreed for Steve Wilson to stand for nomination at the AGM as an executive member and attend on behalf of Newham SACRE.

• RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN ENGLAND – A Critical time, a personal perspective by John Keast

• SACRE NEWS - Autumn 2010

SACRE noted the Publications.

SACRE is asked to consider nominating representatives on for the 2011/12 Municipal year:

• The Newham Community and Police Forum
• The Newham Admission Forum

In regards to new English Baccalaureate, SACRE was informed that due to lobbying by various groups the DoE would consider including RE under the humanities. SACRE agreed to write to Michael Grove, Secretary for Education for him to reconsider his earlier decision to exclude RE. All correspondence must reach Michal Gove before 31st March.

Decision

SACRE agreed for write to Michael Grove, Secretary for Education, Claire would draft a letter for the Chair to sign and be sent.  The Clerk would then share this letter with other SACRE members

The next meeting is scheduled for 9 June 2011 (provisional) and will be held at Newham Town Hall.

The next scheduled meeting is for 9 June 2011 at East Ham Town Hall.