Agenda and minutes

(Opening Reflections to be delivered by Mrs C Dring)

Opening reflections were delivered by Mrs C Dring.

On the nomination of Councillor C Burke, seconded by David Scoffield and there being no other nominations, it was

          RESOLVED

That Mr N McFarlane BEM (Salvation Army) be elected as Chair to SACRE for 2014/2015.

On the nomination of David Scoffield, seconded by Dr Tanweer Ahmed and there being no other nominations, it was

RESOLVED

That Councillor Chris Burke, (Roman Catholic), be elected as Vice-Chairman to SACRE for 2014/2015.

Apologies for absence were received from David Clements.

There were no declarations of Members' interests received.

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the Meeting held on the 12 November 2013 were agreed as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

          Minute No 1 – the word "alleviating" to be replaced with the word         "removing".

(Professor B Winston (Lincolnshire Jewish Community) and Jill Chandar-Nair (Inclusion and Attendance Manager, Lincolnshire County Council) joined the meeting at 2.10 pm)

(The Chairman to present a verbal update to SACRE on correspondence received)

The Chairman reported that the last two meetings of SACRE held had been inquorate.  Informal notes had been produced of the inquorate meetings and circulated to SACRE members.

It was noted that an invitation had been extended to the Chairman and Wendy Harrison, Religious Education Adviser, to attend the SIKH Seminar in Leicester but unfortunately the date was inconvenient and neither were able to attend.  It was expected that any future invitations would be extended to them.

Letters of commendation had been sent to schools in Lincolnshire who had received positive Ofsted comments with regard to SMSC and Religious Education.  It was reported that following the letters sent to schools, Bishop King CE Primary School in Lincoln had replied stating that representatives from the school would be willing to meet with members of SACRE.  It was noted that Bishop King CE Primary School in Lincoln was a very well respected school within the local community.

An information leaflet had been received from The Farmington Institute whose aim was to support and encourage teachers of Religious Education in schools. The Farmington Institute was financed by the Farmington Trust.  The Institute awards fellowships to teachers of Religious Education in schools and publishes discussion papers as well as arranging conferences.  It was reported that this leaflet had been circulated to schools in Lincolnshire. 

Information had also been received which had asked for a school who had excelled in Religious Education to be nominated for an award and consideration was being given to this.

(Mrs C Williamson joined the meeting at 2.20 pm)

The Chairman reported that there was currently a vacancy for a member of the United Reform Church to join SACRE and it was noted that this matter would be discussed at their Autumn Regional Meeting.

The Chairman stated that he had received a request to contact the Lincolnshire Echo to discuss the different faith groups in Lincolnshire.  It was suggested that in future assistance could be provided from Lincolnshire County Council's Communications Team when dealing with any issues relating to the press.

RESOLVED

That the Chairman's verbal report be noted and the Clerk to SACRE contact the Bishop King CE Primary School to arrange for a representative to attend the next SACRE meeting.

(SACRE to receive an updated Attendance List for information purposes)

The Committee received an up-to-date copy of the attendance list for SACRE.  The Chairman welcomed Dr Tanweer Ahmed representing the Islamic Association of Lincoln in the Christian and other Religious Denominations Group as well as Sarah Thornton and Elizabeth Moore who represented Primary Schools in The Teachers' Panel Group.

RESOLVED

          That the current membership be noted.

(That the status of the current Action Plan and Archive version be approved and/or amended)

Wendy Harrison, presented the SACRE Action Plan and the Archived Version for approval to SACRE.  Thanks were given to Wendy for all her work on finalising these documents.

A suggestion was received that SACRE should encourage the celebration of festivals from different religions in order that all children had a good understanding of diversity.  Wendy Harrison reported that a linked project was currently being developed between schools in Leicester and Lincolnshire which would enable pupils to share their cultures and life experiences.  It was noted that this project needed further development which would be undertaken over the next year. 

It was suggested that SACRE members from Leicester visited Lincolnshire's SACRE meeting (and vice versa) sometime during the next year in order to gain a better understanding of the different local authorities and schools.  It was commented that so much good work was being undertaken in isolated areas and the information needed to be collated and shared with all schools and communities.

It was noted that a Conference would be taking place in November at the Lincoln Diocese and their theme would be "Christmas in Different Countries". 

It was confirmed that the Diocese kept a record of which Church of England schools achieved the Religious Education Quality Mark.  Further work was to be undertaken extending the Religious Education Quality Mark to maintained schools in the New Year.

It was reported that there had been a meeting of Secondary School Religious Education Teachers at Bishop Grosseste University to discuss issues which related to Religious Education and SMSC.  It was expected that this group would meet termly, under the guidance of Mark Plater.  Assisted by members of the group, Mark had secured money from the Religious Education Council to develop a hub which would promote SMSC development in schools.

It was reported that Bishop Grosseteste University College, through the Farmington Institute, now held funding for teachers to undertake a Masters' Degree in Religious Education.  Funding (up to 60%) was provided for schools to be able to employ supply teachers in order that their staff could attain a Masters' Degree.  It was noted that there were five placements available each year.

The Chairman reported that he and Wendy Harrison had recently visited the Lincoln mosque and met with Dr Tanweer Ahmed.  Dr Ahmed explained that work would shortly be undertaken on the construction of a new mosque on Boultham Park Road in Lincoln.  The mosque would take approximately one year to complete and thanks were given to the people in Lincoln for supporting this venture.  It was hoped that the new mosque would raise awareness about Islam.  Teachers of Religious Education who wished to visit the mosque would be welcomed. 

RESOLVED

          That the Action Plan and Archived version be approved.

(SACRE is required to approve the Annual Report for 2012/2013)

The Chairman reported that although the Annual Report had been presented at the last two meetings of SACRE the meetings were inquorate therefore, approval could not be given.  Thanks were given to Wendy Harrison for the work undertaken on this report.

RESOLVED

          That the report presented be approved.

(To receive a verbal update from Wendy Harrison, Religious Education Adviser, on the progress of next year's 2015 Conference)

Wendy Harrison reported that no definite date had yet been determined for the SACRE Conference in November 2015.  It was hoped that there would be more information available at the next SACRE meeting and it was felt that some of the themes discussed at today's SACRE meeting could be incorporated as a theme for the Conference.

RESOLVED

          That the verbal report be noted.

(SACRE to receive and comment upon the Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools, Section 48)

SACRE received Section 48 Inspections for 2014.  This was a statutory inspection which all Church schools had around the time of their Ofsted inspection.  The inspectors considered the character of the school, which included leadership and management, religious education, collective worship, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development together with links with the local community.

RESOLVED

          That the report be noted.

(SACRE to receive and comment upon an analysis of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development in schools)

SACRE received a summary of Ofsted Inspections of Lincolnshire Schools with reference to provision for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

It was noted that Wendy Harrison had recently attended an Ofsted update training and would be attending a NASACRE Conference in Birmingham on the 27 November 2014 which would focus on the "Trojan Horse" situation in Birmingham.  SACRE would receive an update on this course at their next meeting.

It was confirmed that accreditation letters be sent to the following schools who had performed well over the last term:

Bourne, Westfield Primary Academy, Bourne

Mablethorpe Primary Academy

The Holbeach William Stukeley School, Spalding

Whaplode CE, Spalding

Mercer Wood Academy, Gainsborough

King Edward VI, Spilsby

Aegir Community School, Gainsborough

RESOLVED

That the report be noted and letters sent to the schools listed above.

(The Committee is invited to note the report which summaries the positive features and areas for development in schools monitored during the Summer and Autumn terms 2014)

SACRE received a summary of monitoring visits to Lincolnshire schools.  Wendy Harrison reported that her visits had been welcomed by schools and there had been many Religious Education teachers who had been keen to glean more information on the subject which they taught.  Schools had been well prepared for Wendy's visit and on one occasion the Vice-Chair of Governors also attended.

The following points were also noted:

·    Clearer guidance should be provided to teachers on how lessons should be recorded;

·    Religious Education was most effective where Head teachers offered strong support;

·    Teachers needed more opportunities for continual professional development;

·    Religious Education was outstanding in most special schools;

·    Children needed first-hand experience of all faiths where possible;

·    Teachers to be encouraged to try different teaching methods in the classroom to ascertain what works well and what works less well; and

·    Schools who provided very effective Religious Education could help to support schools who showed signs of difficulty.

Opening Reflections

It was noted that there was an increasing reluctance for SACRE members to volunteer to provide "Opening Reflections" at the start of each meeting and it was suggested that prayers from different faiths could also be incorporated. 

There was a suggestion that the Council's Christian Prayers before the commencement of meetings should incorporate prayers from different faiths.

RESOLVED

          That the report be noted.

(To receive a verbal report from Wendy Harrison, Religious Education Adviser, on the new Ofsted Framework)

This item was covered and discussed in Item No 14 – Summary of Monitoring Visits to Lincolnshire Schools.

(The Committee to receive the Diocese Newsletter)

SACRE received the Diocesan Education Update and the Crosslincs newsletters which were circulated to the meeting.

It was reported that the National Society (the education wing of the Church of England) had published a report entitled "Making a Difference" which was a review of Religious Education in Church of England schools.  The report stated that teaching of religious education in secondary schools was good or outstanding but that teaching of this subject in primary schools was poor.  It was noted, however, that all schools valued the subject very highly.

The Committee observed that one Church of England primary school in Lincolnshire had been rated as having teaching of a poor standard.  The Committee expressed their concern at this and questioned the inspection criteria.  It was felt that all teachers worked hard, often under much pressure, to instil good values, manners, morals and respect into the children they taught and it was the consensus of opinion that the majority of children would grow into being responsible caring adults.  The Committee was informed that it was the remit of the Diocese to ensure that teaching standards in all Lincolnshire Church of England schools were of a good standard.  It was felt that there was not a clear understanding of what "good" Religious Education teaching was and this would be an area which the Diocese needed to do further work on.

Gillian Georgiou, Diocese, provided a brief update on the recent review into Religious Studies at GCSE and A level examinations.

The Chairman thanked Gillian Georgiou at the Diocese for her continued support.

RESOLVED

          That the newsletters be noted.

(SACRE to confirm the proposed dates for future meetings)

Thursday 2 April 2015 – 2 pm

Thursday 25 June 2015 – 2 pm

Tuesday 24 November 2015 – 2 pm

SACRE considered proposed dates of future meetings of:

Thursday 2 April 2015

Thursday 25 June 2015 and

Tuesday 24 November 2015

It was noted that the date of the 25 June 2015 would coincide with the date of the Lincolnshire Show and it was asked that this date be changed.  (Following this meeting, the date of Tuesday 23 June 2015 at 2 pm had been confirmed to SACRE members).

Opening Reflections would be delivered by Professor B Winston at the meeting on the 2 April 2015.

RESOLVED

That the dates of the 2 April 2015 and the 24 November 2015 be confirmed and the Clerk to SACRE rearrange the proposed meeting date of the 25 June 2015 and circulate the revised meeting date to members of SACRE as soon as possible.