Issue - meetings

Discussion item – to be the main focus of the meeting.

It was agreed that this item be deferred until the next meeting. 

However, members discussed the lack of professional support to the SACRE from the Local Authority.  This was a matter of concern as it was greatly hindering fulfilment of the SACRE’s obligations as a statutory body and primary objective to support religious education and collective worship in schools within the local area.

RESOLVED that a letter be sent on behalf of the SACRE to the Head of Children’s Services to express concern at the lack of appropriate professional support to the SACRE which was preventing the undertaking of its core objectives as a statutory body.

Discussion item – to be the main focus of the meeting.

It was agreed that this item be deferred until the next meeting.

However, there was discussion on:

·  the aims, objectives and desired outcomes for the SACRE,;

·  relationship of the SACRE with the growing number of academies;

·  issues regarding attendance, membership and the number of vacancies;

·  the statutory duty on the Local Authority to provide support (both financial and professional) for the SACRE and a perceived reduction in this support including the lack of committed funding, and loss of specialist adviser post;

·  An assessment of the faith profile across the City;

·  the possibility of adapting the questionnaire used in Hampshire to gain feedback and assess the attitude of schools to the Agreed Syllabus – Living Difference – to be sent out to all schools in the City;

It was agreed that the work on the adaptation of the Hants questionnaire would be taken forward by David Vane, Priti Dave, Fiona Plummer and Dr Palmer – with an update to come to the next meeting.