Agenda and minutes

Gillian Georgiou gave the opening reflections.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Jackie Brockway (Lincolnshire County Council), Elizabeth Moore (Primary Schools), Neville McFarlane BEM (Salvation Army) and Swathi Sreenivasan (Hindu Community).

None were declared at this stage of the meeting.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the previous meeting of SACRE held on 7 July 2016, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to the following amendments:-

Minute 38 – first paragraph, after "lifted", add "from collective worship" and under the heading of "Comments by SACRE….following:-", paragraph No. 2, delete "requirement" and add "opportunity".

Minute 39 – second paragraph, delete "servicing" and add "serving".

Minute 40 – third paragraph, delete "Gold" and add "Silver" and in the resolution delete "Gold" and add "Silver".

Minute 42 – paragraph one, delete "The Christianity Project" and add "Understanding Christianity" and in the second paragraph delete "religious matters" and add "RE".

None.

(A report by Steve Blagg, Clerk to the SACRE, on constitutional matters)

SACRE received a report from Steve Blagg in connection with a revision to its Constitution. Under "Membership" it stated that "Committee D: the LA: to be politically balanced". SACRE was informed that the need for the Local Authority representatives to be politically balanced was not a requirement under the provisions of the Education Act 1996. The County Council's Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services would be recommended to make the necessary change to the Constitution to show that this was not a requirement.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.

(Committee A needs to give consideration to nominating representatives to fill vacancies on Committee A as required by the SACRE's Constitution)

SACRE considered a paper in connection with the filling of vacancies on Committee "A" (Christian and Other Denominations). SACRE noted that the filling of vacancies on this Committee was the responsibility of Committee "A" in accordance with SACRE's Constitution.

It was the view of Committee "A" that following consideration of the statistics from the 2011 Census, detailed in the paper, that Chris Rose, representing the Society of Friends should be recommended to the County Council's Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services, for approval, to serve on Committee "A".

SACRE noted the paper. In the meantime, Committee "A" agreed to have a pre-meeting at 1.30pm on 22 November 2016, to discuss and make recommendations to the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services, with regard to the remaining two vacancies on Committee "A".

RESOLVED

(a) That arrangements be made for Committee "A" to have a pre-meeting at 1.30pm on 22 November 2016, before the next meeting of SACRE, in order to make recommendations to fill the vacancies on Committee "A".

(b) That it be noted that Committee "A" wish to recommend the appointment of Christopher Rose, the Society of Friends, to fill the vacancies on Committee "A", to the Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services.

(The SACRE will recall that at its last meeting it was agreed to show all of this film at this meeting)

SACRE viewed a film about British Values produced by Leicester SACRE.

Wendy Harrison stated that the film had raised many issues and reminded members that British Values were now taken into consideration in OFSTED inspection.

(A report by Wendy Harrison, RE Adviser, which summarises inspectors’ judgements on schools’ provision for pupils’ SMSC development in those schools inspected by OFSTED since the last report presented to SACRE on 8^th March 2016)

SACRE received a report which summarised inspectors' judgements on schools' provision for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development (SMSC) and which now included judgements about the way schools promoted British Values and prepared pupils for life in modern Britain.

Wendy Harrison stated that since the publication of the report she had received an email from the headteacher of Boston Grammar School complaining about how the SMSC analysis had been reported in the Lincolnshire Echo and Boston Target newspapers. The article had implied that the teaching of RE in his school was inadequate. In fact, the word "inadequate" was used by Ofsted to describe the overall effectiveness of the school and had nothing whatever to do with the teaching of RE. Wendy Harrison stated that she had spoken to the headteacher to inform him that the newspapers had misinterpreted the report and the fact that it was about provision for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. She stated that the headteacher had asked what action SACRE proposed to take on this matter.

Comments made by SACRE included the damage done to the school's reputation especially as the reports had appeared on the internet sites for these newspapers and the possibility of issuing a press statement to counter the inaccurate report. Members also commented that sometimes newspaper reports sensationalised issues in order to sell copies.

Wendy Harrison stated that the headteacher had explained that data for Religious Studies at the school showed that achievement was good and that it was noted that the 2015 GCSE results in RE ranked the school in the top category for this subject. The headteacher was happy that Wendy Harrison had addressed the issue quickly and she would be visiting the school in the autumn term to see good practice in RE at first hand.

Wendy Harrison agreed to examine the format of the SMSC report for future meetings and to clarify what the term "overall effectiveness" referred to.

RESOLVED

(a) That Wendy Harrison examine the format of the SMSC report for future meetings.

(b) That Wendy Harrison speak to the headteacher of Boston Grammar School to inform him that this matter had been considered by SACRE and that, if required, the Chairman was prepared to give a statement on this matter to the press.

(c) That letters of congratulation be sent to the Lincoln Bishop King Church of England Primary School, Moulton Chapel School and Swineshead St Mary's Church of England School.

(Wendy Harrison, RE Adviser, to provide a verbal summary of the recent court case and the responses from the BHA and NASACRE)

Wendy Harrison gave a presentation on the outcome of the High Court ruling in connection with the case brought by the British Humanist Association (BHA), on behalf of parents, who had argued that the study of non-religious world views such as humanism should be included in Religious Studies GCSE syllabuses. Wendy Harrison summarised the main points of the argument from the DfE and BHA's points of view.

SACRE agreed that the implications of the High Court ruling would need to be taken into consideration in the new Agreed Syllabus, though in fact the syllabus already stated that non-religious world views should be taken into account. It was noted that the BHA had produced teaching materials for schools.

(Wendy Harrison, RE Adviser, to provide a verbal update on what has been achieved so far and what needs to be done)

Wendy Harrison gave a verbal update in connection with the Agreed Syllabus. She stated that the teachers' working party had met twice and that she and Gillian Georgiou would be working on the document during the summer. It was hoped to present the first draft of the new syllabus to the Agreed Syllabus Conference at the next meeting of SACRE and the first meeting of the SACRE agreed syllabus working party would be arranged shortly.

(A report by Gillian Georgiou, Diocesan RE Adviser, which gives an update on Diocesan matters)

SACRE received a paper from Gillian Georgiou in connection with an update of Diocesan matters. The paper made reference to "Understanding Christianity" which was a new resource from the Church of England Education Office and RE Today and whose key purpose was to support pupils in developing their understanding of Christianity. The document set the bar for the quality of teaching and learning Christianity in church schools but was also intended for non-church schools.

Gillian Georgiou also made reference to the weakening of the teaching of RE in secondary schools and academies across the Diocese of Lincoln and the need for her to work in consultation with SACRE to address this problem. She outlined three examples from around the county of measures to overcome this problem, including the involvement of local faith communities. Wendy Harrison agreed to speak to Jill Chandar-Nair about this matter and Gillian Georgiou agreed to investigate the issues specifically raised in her paper. 

(A report by Wendy Harrison, RE Adviser, in connection with the priorities and the way forward for SACRE’s next Action Plan)

SACRE received a report from Wendy Harrison on the SACRE Action Plan.

It was agreed that SACRE members should examine the new format of the Action Plan and that it should be considered at the next meeting and placed higher on the agenda.

(Wendy Harrison, RE Adviser, to give a presentation on the key points arising from the conference in May 2016, with a focus on Professor Adam Dinham’s presentation)

SACRE received a verbal report from Wendy Harrison in connection with the outcome of the key points from the NASACRE Conference held in May 2016 with a particular focus on the presentation from Professor Adam Dinham. He made reference to the fact that if a national curriculum for RE replaced locally agreed syllabuses then this would have implications for SACRE and their role would need to change. Other issues raised in his presentation included acts of collective worship and the right of withdrawal, the role of RE in the wider life of the school and the significant question – "What is the point of RE?"

Wendy Harrison stated that Professor Adam's presentation raised a number of issues for consideration at future meetings.

(Mark Plater, Bishop Grosseteste University, will give a verbal update on the latest arrangements for the Conference)

In Mark Plater's absence, Gillian Georgiou gave a verbal update in connection with the RE/SACRE Conference to be held at Bishop Grossteste University on 20 October 2016. She stated that flyers about the conference had been sent to schools. Mark Plater and Wendy Harrison had met Young Ambassadors from Nottingham Redhill Academy who were to take part in the conference. Another planning meeting for the event was due to be held in September, panel members and speakers had been arranged and the conference was open to all with an interest in RE.

Wendy Harrison stated that Jill Chandar-Nair had been asked if SACRE could make a contribution of £1500 towards the cost of the conference and SACRE agreed to this contribution being made.

(This matter has been placed on the agenda due to the postponement of the arranged meeting with the City of Leicester SACRE and to arrange a new date)

Wendy Harrison stated that the City of Leicester SACRE proposed to arrange a meeting of their SACRE in Autumn 2016 and members of this SACRE would be invited to attend.

It was noted that the next meeting of SACRE had been arranged for 2.00pm on 22 November 2016.

A pre-meeting of Committee "A" would be arranged for 1.30pm on 22 November 2016.