Agenda and draft minutes

Ben Rich (Vice Chair) chaired the meeting in the absence of Cllr Webb (Chair) who had given apologies for the meeting. The meeting was inquorate.

To welcome new Members to Group A – Mark Jones (Buddhist), Fleur Kennedy (Bahai’i), Colin Lewisohn (Humanist) and Dee Boyle (Unitarian, Buddhist, Pagan).

The Chair welcomed Fleur Kennedy, daughter of former SACRE Member Daryoush Mazloum as the representative of the Bahai’i faith. He noted that SACRE was sorry for the loss of her father and noted his work for SACRE. New Members Mark Jones (Buddhist),

Colin Lewisohn (Humanist), and Dee Boyle (Unitarian, Buddhist, Pagan) were also welcomed. Potential new Member Tony Lawton (Catholic, retired Solicitor for the Dioceses of Leeds and Middlesbrough) was also welcomed to the meeting. It was noted that the appointments would be formally made at Council.

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest or other registerable interest they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

[Please see attached sheet for further guidance for Members]

Apologies for absence were received and noted for accepted for

Cllr Webb, Imam Amar, Sue Bland, Joseph Everdell and Andy Tod. There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2024 be approved at a future meeting and would be amended to include apologies from Cllr Rowley. 

There were no matters arising. As the meeting was inquorate Maxine Squire noted that there would need to be a separate meeting to approve the Annual Report.

To approve the 2023-24 Annual Report.

Maxine Squire explained that the Annual Report followed a set template.

[Mark Jones joined the meeting at 6.09pm]

Maxine Squire explained that she would circulate the report with the exam results included. She reported that RE in York schools remained a strong subject and there wasn’t a disadvantage gap at A Level, which was showing the subject to be very week taught. She added that there were high levels of take up in York secondary schools and the percentage of good passes remained strong. She noted the findings of the 2024 and noted that two Members from Groups B and C had attended the NASACRE conference. She explained that 2026 would mark the review of the Agreed Syllabus. Members were asked for comments on the report.

A Member asked whether there was any scope for understanding why boys were doing better than girls and Maxine Squire undertook to contact subject leaders about it. A Member noted the difference between GCSE and A Level syllabuses. A Member noted that at her school, more girls than boys took RE and Maxine Squire noted that it would be useful to see the difference in take up at faith schools with sixth forms and other sixth form colleges. Members noted that it would be interesting to see if there was a three year trend in results.

A Member noted that at their school there was two girls and four boys doing RE and Philosophy A Level and he explained how students were encouraged to take up the A Level through taster sessions. He noted that the GCSE and A Level were completely different courses.  A Member noted her son attended a school where the GCSE was not compulsory.

A Member asked if there was a reason why GCSE RE was Christianity focussed and Maxine Squire explained that this was related to the Education Act. The Annual Report would be approved an extra meeting.

Members will receive a presentation on the main findings from the School Survey.

Maxine Squire reported that the school survey had gone out in November and was a different format to previous survey that had produced more responses. She noted that 17 schools had completed the survey, and of this 14 were primary and 3 were secondary. She noted examples of good practice from different schools and primary schools development priorities, adding that a SACRE development priority was the development of a resource bank. She detailed examples of good practice in secondary schools and noted that the Agreed Syllabus helped with the delivery of RE.  She noted secondary schools priorities for development.

From the results of the school survey, Maxine Squire asked Members to consider the SACRE development plan. The Chair suggested that Members focus first on what schools were doing, and then the development plan. A Member was encouraged by the results of the school survey and the mix of schools that had responded and noted that he would encourage different groups to visit schools. Regarding the results, a Member noted that it was useful to have in depth answers. A Member advised that York Interfaith did not see schools approaching them and she added that they would be visiting Woldgate School in Pocklington. Members gave different examples of contact from schools.

It as suggested that as part of the development plan, individual schools could have visits from all faiths. It was suggested that that the presentation on the school survey results could be sent to all schools and Maxine Squire undertook to send it to all schools. A Member asked if York Interfaith could be mentioned in the SACRE newsletter and Cllr Knight noted that it would be included in the newletter.

To receive an update on the monitoring of Standards in RE including the Ofsted Annual Report and the Schools Survey, Autumn 2024.

This agenda item was an error on the agenda.

To review the SACRE development plan.

Maxine Squire advised that the development plan would be on the agenda for every meeting and that it would be sent to Members. Members discussed the development plan and a Member asked if SACRE could have a city wide meeting for RE teachers. It was suggested there could be a focus on CPD and the using schools as examples of good practice. Maxine Squire noted the five key functions of SACRE. It was noted that there was a need to focus on priority 2 and that priorities 3 and 4 had been met. It was noted that the review of Agreed Syllabus would form part of the 2025-27 development plan. Maxine Squire was asked and confirmed that the syllabus was agreed at the syllabus conference. It was noted that it had been agreed that consideration would be given to the Humanist part of the syllabus.

It was suggested that work on the agreed syllabus could begin through subject leaders and that teachers could be invited to an event with SACRE on the agreed syllabus. Maxine Squire was asked and confirmed that resources were signposted through the RE Hub.

A verbal update will be given on complaints received and the determinations in respect of those complaints.

It was noted that there had been no complaints to SACRE.

School visits

Maxine Squire noted that she would arrange a SACRE visit to Fulford. Taco Michiels agreed there could be a SACRE visit to Jospeh Rowntree School.

New Member induction

The Democracy Officer undertook to send the Constitutuon, Development Plan and NASACRE documents to new Members.

SACRE membership to York Interfaith

A Member asked if SACRE was a member of York Interfaith. Maxine Squire advised that it would need consideration.

11 March 2025 at 6pm at West Offices

15 July 2025 at 6pm at West Offices

Additional meeting to be arranged for approval of Annual Report

11 March 2025 at 5.00pm at West Offices

15 July 2025 at 6.00pm at West Offices