Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome and Apologies

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed members to the meeting.

 

Apologies were received from:-

Group A – David Vane

Group A – Priti Dave

Group A – Andy Mills

Group D – Councillor Kaur

Varina Emblen

2.

Minutes of the Last Meeting including Matters Arising pdf icon PDF 52 KB

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8th October 2012, attached.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 8th October 2012 be approved and signed as a correct record.  (Copy of the Minutes circulated with the Agenda and appended to the signed Minutes).

 

Matters Arising

 

Page 1 – Apologies had been received from Anas Al Korj and Ellen Humphries.

 

Page 2 - Jackie Meering reported that the fourth paragraph should read “The Chair reported that only one written response had been received in connection with the way Collective Worship was taught in schools, although Jackie Meering confirmed that most primary schools have themes set each week”.

 

Page 3 – Educational Attainment 2012 - Elizabeth Jenkerson reported that she now had a hard copy of the questionnaire which had been passed to the Chair.

3.

Membership of SACRE

To update the Membership List.

 

Minutes:

It was noted that Anas Al Korj was willing to stand again for a four year term as the Muslim representative.  It was further noted that Ellen Humphries (National Association of Headteachers) and Julian Bryant (Association of Teachers and Lecturers) had left SACRE due to change in their circumstances and that the clerk was pursuing new members for these two positions.

 

The Chair reported that he was enquiring about new members to fill the Quakers, Jewish, Salvation Army, Greek Orthodox, Sikh and United Reformed vacancies.

4.

Feedback on Events

Minutes:

Elizabeth Jenkerson reported that an RE Quality Mark had been introduced which would raise the profile of RE in schools.  She stated that the high quality Living Difference syllabus required extra training for staff and therefore extra funding, which may not be available.

5.

Update on Religious Education Council of England and Wales' Subject Review of Religious Education

To discuss updated information on the Religious Education Council of England and Wales’ Subject Review of Religious Education.

Minutes:

The Chair reported that the Religious Education Council of England and Wales’ subject review of religious education was at a midpoint and that no further action was currently required.

6.

Discussion on Faith Schools

To discuss faith schools, with particular focus upon Southampton, and to receive presentations from Sajid Butt, Principal of FITRAH SIPS and Tony Blackshaw on his work with Church of England schools.

Minutes:

The Chair introduced the presentations by giving some statistics about different types of schools in the UK, stating that Academies had started in 2000 and that to date, over half the secondary schools in the UK have converted to Academy status.  A discussion took place regarding how RE was monitored in non-Local Authority schools and it was acknowledged that although a City Councillor may be on the Board of Governors, this was not always the case and SACRE members stated that Local Authority representatives had not asked questions about the teaching and results of RE.  It was agreed that clarification on the extent of RE teaching and the degree of intervention during an Ofsted report would be useful as it was difficult to know what was happening in non-Local Authority schools unless the Ofsted report quantified the results.

 

The clerk was asked to forward the electronic link to the list of criteria against Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) in Ofsted inspections http://www.retoday.org.uk/news/ofsted-guidance-on-smsc  and also the link to the National Framework for Church Schoolshttp://portsmouth.anglican.org/what_we_do/education/school_inspection_siasand  http://www.churchofengland.org/education/national-society/inspecting-our-schools.aspx

 

Sajid Butt, Principal of Fitrah Sipps, gave a verbal presentation on his faith school and also tabled a paper which the clerk was asked to circulate to all members.  He stated that the school began in 2010 and was an independent school for children in Years 1-6.  He outlined the setting up process of the school, the principles and ethos, the make up of the Governing Body and the priorities and challenges for the next two years.  Mr Butt said he would like to hear from other members regarding the possibility of sharing learning and experiences.  He reported that the finances for the school were limited thereby making the future of the school somewhat uncertain.

 

Tony Blackshaw, Diocesan Director of Education, gave a verbal presentation on Church of England schools in the UK and the clerk was asked to circulate his presentation notes to members.  He spoke about the history; the need for Government to require good results and resources for RE in schools; the openness to welcome all children into Church of England schools and stated that school results tended to be above average.

7.

Attainment in Religious Education at GCSE Level in Southampton Maintained Schools pdf icon PDF 39 KB

To discuss the report of the Senior Inspector for Schools detailing the attainment in Religious Education at GCSE level in maintained schools in Southampton, attached.

Minutes:

The meeting noted Varina Emblen’s paper on attainment in RE at GCSE level in Southampton Maintained Schools.  Although the report listed statistics about numbers of children taking RE GCSE, members were keen to know how many children were from faith schools and also if there had been changes in the way that GCSE option of subjects was offered in schools.  The Chair said that he would ask Varina Emblen and let members know.  Members were asked to pass any further questions to the Chair so that he could seek clarification.

8.

Westhill Awards for 2013

To note that the Westhill Awards for 2013 have a closing date of 30th March 2013 and that explanatory papers and an application form are available from http://www.nasacre.org.uk/projects.html .

Minutes:

The Chair asked that members note the closing date of 30th March for the Westhill Awards for 2013.