Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received and accepted for Penny Coppin-Siddall. Ian Hodgson, Ben Rich, Kirsty Wordsworth, Taco Michiels, and Cllrs Fitzpatrick and Rowley.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the previous SACRE meeting held on 22 June 2022.

Resolved: That subject to prophletising being changed to XXXX under the A short talk and Q&A on Buddhism item, the minutes be approved and signed as a correct record at the next meeting.

Reason:     In order to approved the minutes.

To consider the Draft SACRE Annual Report 2021-22.

Maxine Squire explained that the draft SACRE report followed NASACRE and DfE templates and covered the period July 2021 to August 2022. She advised that a quorate meeting would be needed to sign off the report. It was confirmed that the Chair’s Introduction and membership information in the report needed updating. In response to a question from the Chair, Cllr Cuthbertson (previous Chair) confirmed that he had drafted a Chair’s Introduction.

SACRE members were asked for their comments on the draft report. It was suggested that the venue for two SACRE meetings had been in York schools and that there had been presentations on Buddhism and Humanism at two meetings could be included in the report. It was also suggested that input from RE teachers could be included in the report.

[Penny Coppin-Siddal joined the meeting at 18.18]

Resolved: That the SACRE Annual Report 2021-22 be approved at the next meeting.

Reasin: In order for the Annual Report to be submitted to NASACRE and the DfE.

Members will receive an update on the national data for GCSEs and A Levels. This will include a break down from schools compared with the national link to NATRE and REC reports.

Members had been provided with a paper on the National Response to A Level and GCSE religious Education results.  It was noted that for secondary schools, monitoring could come through pupil voice, school websites and monitoring data. For primary schools, this could be through school websites, and schools questionnaires.

Resolved: That the National Response to A Level and GCSE religious Education results be noted.

Reason: In order to be kept up to date on national data.

To receive a report on progress towards the Development Plan.

Maxine Squire gave an update on the Development Plan noting that SACRE discussions had informed the plan. She detailed the actions that had been completed and noted that she had looked at areas of the plan that related back to NASACRE to ensure that SACRE could deliver on it’s actions. Olivia Seymour explained that SACRE needed to look at the way in which it included visits in the plan and she highlighted the work of Andy Tod on the Primary RE Network and reported that Taco Michiels had agreed to lead the Secondary RE group.

The Chair asked if schools visits had been arranged. Maxine Squire explained that it was better to look at areas where best practice could be showcased and she undertook to work with Andy Tod and Taco Michiels on this. The Chair noted the need to mindful of the pressure on teachers.

It was suggested that SACRE visits to schools needed to be SACRE Member led and it was suggested that the schools questionnaire could reflect this. Olivia Seymour suggested that it would be useful for Members to have training on the teaching of RE in schools and a Member suggested that that it would be useful for teachers if the visits celebrated the work of RE teachers. It was noted that this would be similar to a governor type of visit into schools. It was noted that visits to schools would need to be approved by Headteacher and a Member asked if school visits could be directed through RE teachers.

The Chair asked if visits could be developed through the Primary and Secondary RE networks. Maxine Squire and Olivia Seymour undertook to organise a scheme of potential visits to be circulated to all SACRE Members. Olivia Seymour suggested that there be training on visits at the February 2023 SACRE meeting.

Resolved: That the update on the Development Plan 2022-24 be noted.

Reason: In order to be kept up to date on the progress of the Development Plan.

To receive a report detailing NASACRE updates.

Olivia Seymour outlined the National RE and Collective Worship updates as detailed in the update paper circulated to SACRE Members. She gave an update on the Regional RE Hub Leads for Religious Education, noting that she was the regional Lead for Yorkshire and the Humber. She reported that there would be a website for the Regional RE Hub and SACRE would be able to put information on that website. It was noted that Interfaith York were also running training on school speakers, who would receive the kitemark. Members were encouraged to read the Still Standing: The Future of SACREs Report.

Resolved: That the National RE and Collective Worship updates be noted.

Reason: In order to be kept up to date on National RE and Collective Worship updates.

To consider SACRE’s role in Interfaith Week (13-20 November 2022).

Penny Coppin-Siddall report that Interfaith Week had been successful. She explained that this year, Interfaith York had experimented with a logo competition  through SACRE and that Ralph Butterfield Primary School had the winning entry. She noted that this had been a good way of connecting with schools. She explained that a number of entries included drawings of Cliffords Tower and this had highlighted a need for schools to educate their children on the history of the tower. There had also been drawings of York Minster which it was used as it did not represent a number of faiths. This was discussed by Members and Olivia Seymour noted that this highlighted an opportunity to use the factsheets launched at the Agreed Syllabus launch. She also noted the resource of the Jewish exhibition at the Castle Museum.

During discussion it was suggested that the work of SACRE could be developed and promoted to schools and it was noted that the logo competition was a good way of engaging with schools. Andy Tod was asked and confirmed that a crib sheet for the RE Primary Network maty be useful.

Olivia Seymour suggested that SACRE may want to consider providing local subject knowledge to schools and she suggested that SACRE consider Interfaith Week during the spring term. It was highlighted that Interfaith Week was close to Remembrance Sunday and Anti Bullying Week in schools and suggested that preparation for Interfaith Week could be coordinated throughout the year. It was agreed that Interfaith Week would be considered in the Spring term.

Resolved: That the update on Interfaith Week be noted.

Reason: In order to be updated on the work of Interfaith York.

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

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

Resolved: That Members be updated on complaints.

Reason: In order to be kept updated on complaints to SACRE and

determinations of complaints.

To consider items for future meetings.

It was agreed that at the January meeting there would be a focus on getting the monitoring strand going and that there would be a possible update on school standards in RE.

Resolved: That the work plan be updated to reflect the above changes.

Reason: In order to keep the work plan updated.

There were no items of urgent business.

1 February 2023 at 6.00pm in the Hudson room at West Offices

12 January 2023 in the Hudson room at West Offices.