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1. Introduction
Foreword by the Chair of SACRE
Cllr Bob Webb, Executive Member for Children and Education
Meeting and Attendance 2024-25
City of York SACRE met five times in the academic year 2024-25.
During the academic year 2024-25 City of York SACRE met in hybrid meetings. Ensuring and maintaining quoracy for SACRE meetings is a continuing area for improvement. The introduction of hybrid meetings has proved helpful, particularly for teachers in committee C, however, securing consistent attendance to ensure that all meetings throughout the year are quorate remains a priority.
York SACRE welcomed new members to Committee A in 2024-25 and this has increased the number of faith groups represented on SACRE.
The attendance, by Committee, is set out below:-
|
Committee |
15th October 2024 |
3rd February 2025 |
24th February 2025 |
15th May 2025 |
15th July 2025 |
|
Committee A Representing Other Denominations / Faith Communities |
4 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
Committee B Representing the Church of England |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Committee C Representing teachers |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
Committee D Representing City of York Council |
3 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
|
LA Officer |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
10 (Quorate) |
8 (Inquorate) |
11 (Quorate) |
11 (Quorate) |
7 (Inquorate) |
A focus on the SACRE development plan, a report from the Local Authority officer (including a focus on standards) and a report on national NASACRE and RE professional organisations updates are standing items at each meeting. In 2024-25 there has also been a focus on beginning the review of the Agreed Syllabus.
2. RE (statutory responsibilities)
Locally agreed syllabus
There are 17 primary, 2 secondary and 1 special maintained schools who follow the City of York Locally Agreed Syllabus
There are 27 primary, 4 secondary and 1 special academies who have adopted the City of York Locally Agreed Syllabus
Separate regulations covering maintained special schools require them to ensure that as far as practicable every pupil receives opportunities to explore RE. The City of York Agreed Syllabus 2021-2026 includes specific guidance and support for Special Schools. Special Schools use the City of York Locally Agreed Syllabus, at least partially, and adapt it to meet the needs of the pupils.
Standards and monitoring of RE
There were 24 inspections of York Schools between September 2024 and July 2025. 19 primary schools were inspected, 1 secondary special school and 4 secondary schools. No concerns about R.E. were raised through these reports.
Key Stage 4 Results
Entries Grade 4+% Grade 1-9%
2025 768 81.4 99.16
Key Stage 5 Results
4 out of the 5 11-18 secondary schools in the City plus York College entered students for the A2 level examinations in Religious Studies. Huntington had 16 entries; All Saints 14, Archbishop Holgate’s 12 and Fulford 9. York College entered 106.
Entries A* A B C D E U Total
172 6 32 37 51 27 9 12 174
Teaching, training and materials and advice for schools
The results from the annual survey to schools are being used to inform the SACRE Development Plan and to identify priorities for further training and advice for schools during the academic year 2024-25.
During 2024-25 York SACRE has continued to promote the support that can be accessed via the Regional R.E. Hub.
The 2024-25 Schools Survey has been used to gain feedback on the Agreed Syllabus to inform the review:
· The current syllabus is felt to be helpful and many responses felt it needed to be updated rather than completely changed
· Resources to support specific lessons were felt to be a need
· NATRE resources were identified as being detailed and helpful
· It was felt that study of the following faiths should be central in any revised syllabus: Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity and Islam
The review of the Agreed Syllabus will be considered during 2026/27 and this will be completed in the context of the findings of the Curriculum and Assessment review.
City of York SACRE received no formal complaints regarding RE provision in the academic -year 2024-25.
3. Collective Worship
Besides Religious Education each local authority must work with its SACRE to monitor the provision of daily collective worship. As a result of changes to the Ofsted framework and in the absence of further guidance, the City of York SACRE published guidance in 2017 to support Collective Worship in schools in the City, which it continues to promote within schools. The guidance is available on the City of York SACRE website (www.york.gov.uk/sacre).
Schools may apply to SACRE for a determination in order to provide Collective Worship of a non-Christian or other form. As in previous years, no determinations were requested by schools.
There were no complaints registered with City of York SACRE in 2024/2025 in respect of collective worship.
4. Links with other bodies
City of York SACRE has a long- standing relationship with York Interfaith Group. York Interfaith Group have set up a mechanism to support visits and visitors to York schools.
City of York SACRE continues to support the York Holocaust Memorial Day event.
5. City of York SACRE’s own arrangements
During the academic year 2024-25 City of York SACRE continued its close relationship with City of York Council’s Democratic Services. An officer in the Local Authority’s Democratic Services Section acts as Clerk to SACRE.
During 2024-25 a review of the SACRE development plan took place. This review of the development plan has been designed to ensure that SACRE has a clear focus on agreed areas of work which will require a programme of activity to be developed between SACRE meetings. This will then allow members to receive regular updates on the progress of actions identified in the development plan.
The visibility of York SACRE remains a priority, particularly to ensure that it is better understood by schools. This will be promoted through providing opportunities for hearing the voices and experiences of R.E. teachers to ensure that SACRE has a clear understanding of the quality and effectiveness of the Agreed Syllabus in York.
In 2024-25 the members of York SACRE also discussed the importance of supporting schools with work to support community cohesion and this will continue to be a focus for York SACRE as it looks to engage with the breadth of faith and non-faith communities in the City.
The people who serve on York SACRE are invited to do so by the Corporate Director of Children’s Services and Education on the recommendation of various bodies in the local community with a concern for the religious education of school children. The law prescribes that there have to be four “committees” each comprising representatives of specified groups.
The current SACRE is constituted as follows:-
Committee A - Representing Other Denominations / Faith Communities:-
Karen Vincent joined August 2022 (Catholic)
Ben Rich (Jewish)
Keith Albans (Methodist)
Iman Abid Salik (Muslim)
Deborah Evans joined March 2021
(Religious Society of Friends)
Vacant (Salvation Army)
Vacant (Sikh)
Fleur Kennedy (York Baha’i Community)
Penny Coppin-Siddall (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Colin Lewisohn (Humanist)
Dee Boyle (Unitarian, Buddhist, Pagan)
Mark Jones (Buddhist)
Committee B - Representing the Church of England:-
Sue Bland (Diocese of York)
Joseph Everdell
Committee C - Representing Teachers:-
Taco Michiels (Joseph Rowntree)
Diane Norton (University of York St John) joined SACRE in October 2023
Committee D - Representing the City of York Council are Councillors:-
Emilie Knight (Lib Dem)
Martin Rowley (Con)
Sarah Wilson (Labour)
Bob Webb (Labour) appointed Chair June 2023
In attendance:-
Maxine Squire (Education Adviser)
Angela Bielby (Clerk)
Finance – annual budget
York’s SACRE is assigned an annual budget of £3,500. A summary of spend in 2024-25 is shown in the table below:
|
Item |
|
Total Spend |
|
NASACRE annual membership fee for 2024-25 |
|
£115.00 |
|
NASACRE conference fees |
|
£240.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total spend 2024-25 |
|
£355.00 |
|
Balance |
|
£3,145.00 |
Circulation
This report is circulated to:
· NASACRE
· Department for Education
· City of York Council Children, Communities and Culture Scrutiny
· City of York schools
· SACRE members representative bodies