Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies and changes to membership and welcome new members.

The Chair thanked Bitterne Park Secondary for giving permission for the meeting to be held on site. 

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2025, attached.

Members agreed the minutes of the meeting on 11 November 2024.

To review the effectiveness of the online monitoring template trail . 

Members reviewed the draft online monitoring form circulated with agenda and fed back potential changes.  It was suggested that the form should note whether there was any reference to the “golden thread” on the school website and that references to collective worship or events related to religious education should be noted when reviewing the school’s website.      

To review recent monitoring and develop a programme for future visits .

It was agreed that a small working group would spearhead led by the Chair and advised by Silas Bingley would initial undertake the monitoring reviews of schools. 

It was explained that an initial inspection had taken place recently and great deal of learning from the initial visit.  Members were briefed on the general aspects of the initial inspection and advised that the report would be made available to them in due course.

Members were told that the terms of reference would be circulated along with report scope. Volunteers were requested and Richard Wharton, Imam Sayfullah and Councillor Beaurain stated that their potential availability dependent on the dates. Members were encouraged to contact Silas or Ruth should they wish to put their names forward.

To receive a briefing on G.C.S.E results

Members were advised that the annual report on GCSE results for Religious Education was due to be published in the near future.  Members were briefed on some of the initial figures.  It was explained that not all schools within the City have the subject on the main curriculum and therefore it was difficult to make comparison between schools at this stage.  It was noted that approximately 30% chose to undertake the subjuct.   

Members noted that the next meeting was on 28 April 2025.