Agenda and draft minutes

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 accepted for Karen Vincent, Penny Coppin-Siddall, Ian Hodgson, Daryoush Mazloum, Ben Rich, Joseph Everdell, Imam Ammar, and Councillor Rowley BEM. There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2024.

Resolved: That the approval of the minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2024 be deferred to the next meeting.

Reason: This meeting was inquorate and therefore could not transact business on the agenda.

Matters arising from the minutes:

Members discussed the minutes, and it was:

Resolved: That the following comments would be taken to the next meeting for approval:

·       A correction was needed to the spelling of Andy Tod’s name.

·       The last line of Minute No. 51, paragraph 1 could be deleted.

·       Ben Rich did not leave the meeting at 6:37pm.

·       The Annual Report to NASACRE and the DfE had been submitted.

·        The first primary school visits had occurred in Fulford, with the Chair, Councillor Knight, and Sue Bland attending.

·       The LA Officer was liaising with Fishergate Primary on the possibility of a future visit.

·       The Chair, and Vice Chair had RAG (Red, Amber, Green) rated the plan and this was included within the agenda.

·       Regarding Minute No. 55, the Chair discussed the possibility of contacting young people for future attendance at SACRE meetings.

Reason: This meeting was inquorate and therefore could not transact business on the agenda.

To receive an update on the monitoring of Standards in RE including the Ofsted Annual Report and the Schools Survey, Autumn 2023

The LA Officer presented the report and highlighted that Academy and LA maintained schools were using the agreed syllabus despite there being no requirement to.

Members discussed prioritising the generation of subject networks across maintained schools, and maintaining contact details for Religious Education across schools. It was mentioned that York Interfaith was helpful in forming connection between faiths and the community.

The LA Officer commented on the possibility of the establishment of a task and finish group for investigating ways of improving responses to the annual survey, and members discussed ways to improve responses for the next survey.

Resolved: That the following comments would be taken to the next meeting for approval:

·       Diane Naughton would visit the Maintained Group on behalf of York SACRE.

Resolved: That this item be deferred to the next meeting.

Reason: This meeting was inquorate and therefore could not transact business on the agenda.

To review the SACRE development plan. The plan is shaped around the five key functions of SACREs contained in the NASACRE Self-Evaluation Toolkit.

It was reported that the Development Plan had been devised by the Chair, Vice Chair, and Councillor Rowley BEM.

Members discussed the Development Plan and the following points were raised:

·         A sentence introducing SACRE members could be added to the website.

·         Primary and Secondary School leaders could be invited to share their thoughts during Compare and Contrast Visits.

·         The LA Officer had contacted all schools for an updated contact list in September.

Resolved: That the following comments would be taken to the next meeting for approval:

·         That Councillor Knight would adopt the action of drafting SACRE leaflets, along with seeking additional support from Interfaith.

·         A discussion on the new development plan would be scheduled for a future SACRE meeting, with the current plan ending this year.

·         SACRE would receive a plan by Penny Coppin-Siddal in a future meeting on potential activities for SACRE to partake in with schools during Interfaith Week.

Resolved: That this item be deferred to the next meeting.

Reason: This meeting was inquorate and therefore could not transact business on the agenda.

To receive NASACRE Briefing 37.

The LA Officer presented the report and members discussed the possibility of two members attending the NASACRE Conference on 20 May 2024, it was discussed that Taco Michiels and Sue Bland could take these places.

Resolved: That the following comments would be taken to the next meeting for approval:

·         That SACRE approves Taco Michiels and Sue Bland’s attendance of the NASACRE Conference on behalf of York SACRE.

·         That feedback from the NASACRE Conference be added to a future meeting.

Resolved: That this item be deferred to the next meeting.

Reason: This meeting was inquorate and therefore could not transact business on the agenda.

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 and it was:

Resolved:

i.       That this item be deferred to the next meeting.

ii.      That the following comments would be taken to the next meeting for approval:

·         That SACRE would research and test the SACRE of Kirklees Council’s Quality Mark which was developed for recommended RE providers and visitors.

Reason: This meeting was inquorate and therefore could not transact business on the agenda.

8 July 2024 at 6pm at West Offices

15 October 2024 at 6pm at West Offices

27 January 2025 at 6pm at West Offices

11 March 2025 at 6pm at West Offices

15 July 2025 at 6pm at West Offices

8 July 2024 at 6pm at West Offices

15 October 2024 at 6pm at West Offices

27 January 2025 at 6pm at West Offices

11 March 2025 at 6pm at West Offices

15 July 2025 at 6pm at West Offices

Jerusalem Trust Education Strategy

The LA Officer noted that SACRE had been contacted by the Jerusalem Trust who offered small grant programmes to schools for the purpose of promoting Christianity. It was reported that the Jerusalem Trust had asked SACRE to distribute their details to local schools in order for them to assist with funding applications.

Resolved: That the following comments would be taken to the next meeting for approval:

·       That the contact details of Jerusalem Trust would be distributed to local schools by SACRE.

Resolved: That this be deferred to the next meeting.

Reason: This meeting was inquorate and therefore could not transact business on the agenda.