Agenda and minutes

Mr D R Scoffield gave the opening reflections.

Apologies for absence were received from Dr Tanweer Ahmed, David Clements, Sarah Thornton and Jill Chandar-Nair (Inclusion and Attendance Manager)

(Three members of Leicester SACRE will be joining us for this meeting –Salma Ravat (Chair), Anne Fishenden (Committee A, representing Quakers), Allan Hayes (Co-opted Humanist representative). The RE Adviser for Lincolnshire, Wendy Harrison, is also a consultant RE Adviser for the City of Leicester)

The Chairman welcomed members of Leicester SACRE - Salma Ravat, (Chair), Anne Fishenden, (Committee A, Quaker representative,  Allan Hayes (Co-opted Humanist representative) and also Chris Rose, nominated replacement member for Frank Sperring on Committee A (Quaker representative) of Lincolnshire County Council's SACRE, who was present as an observer, and Cathryn Jones, RE Co-ordinator, Waddington Redwood Primary School.

None.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the previous meeting of SACRE held on 24 November 2015, be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Wendy Harrison reported that SACRE's comments in connection with minute 25 ("A New Settlement: Religion and Beliefs in Schools") had been sent to NASACRE. The Chairman stated that discussions were still on-going on this matter.

The Chairman reported the resignation of Professor Brian Winston from Committee A of SACRE.

The Chairman stated that letters had been sent to those schools identified in minute 24 (Summary of Ofsted inspections) of the meeting of SACRE on 24 November 2015.

Wendy Harrison introduced the visitors from the City of Leicester's SACRE and outlined outlined her role as RE Adviser to both Lincolnshire's and Leicester's SACRE. She stated that Leicester's SACRE had produced a film on British values and part of this film would be shown to the meeting although not in its entirety as it had not been officially released. Wendy Harrison gave a power point presentation which showed the diversity of religious belief and culture in Leicester. This included a range of churches, mosques and synagogues, etc, as well as other groups such as pagans and secularists. She explained that if schools had a mixed population in terms of faith, or did not have a Christian majority they could apply to SACRE for a determination to have the "mainly Christian" requirement lifted. She explained this within the context of Leicester's diverse population and provided statistical evidence to support this.

Salma Ravat gave a brief presentation of Leicester's SACRE, and once again talked about the diverse population. She explained how determinations work in Leicester and the challenging process schools had to go through in order to get a determination.  She showed some slides which illustrated two schools' approaches to multicultural worship. She also explained that the venue for Leicester's SACRE meetings alternated between schools and places of worship. This allowed the SACRE to examine what was going on at school and community levels.

SACRE then viewed an extract from the film on British values which showed pupils of various ages talking about their experiences of British values. Wendy Harrison stated that it was hoped to produce a similar film for Lincolnshire and it would be up to SACRE to decide what the focus for such a film would be.

Comments by SACRE included the following:-

1. The film was welcomed as it would provide an opportunity for debate amongst the various communities and within schools.

2. The requirement for schools to apply for determinations increased the knowledge about the religious make up of schools in Leicester.

3. Schools would be able to use the film as a resource and training aid.

4. Faith communities had also expressed an interest in using the film.

5. The cost of making a film for Lincolnshire would have to be examined. It was confirmed that the producers of the film were prepared to do this work.

6. The film would provide a useful educational tool for Bishop Grosseteste University.

7. It was planned to place a trailer of the film on social media sites and Youtube.

Wendy Harrison stated that it was proposed to show the whole of the film to the next meeting of SACRE and to make available the teaching materials associated with the film.

The Chairman stated that Leicester's SACRE had invited members of SACRE to attend their next meeting arranged for 4.30pm on Tuesday 12 July 2016.

RESOLVED

(a) That Salma Ravat and her colleagues from Leicester SACRE be thanked for their presentation.

(b) That the film on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38.

Catheryn Jones, RE Coordinator, Waddington Redwood Primary School, gave a presentation about the links between her school and Wyvern Primary School, Leicester. She described her role in the school in teaching about different faiths and stated that there had been some parental opposition to visits to certain places of worship. She had tried to overcome problems by providing more information to explain the educational content of such visits. She stated that there had been some excellent responses from parents on social media about the visits. She described in detail the visit made by Waddington pupils to Wyvern. Her presentation showed the pupils meeting each other working and playing together. At the end pupils expressed their thoughts very positively about the whole experience.  The next stage was for Wyvern Primary School pupils to visit Waddington and the teacher from Wyvern would present this at the Leicester SACRE meeting on 12 July 2016.

Members welcomed the excellent work being done by Cathryn Jones and agreed that more schools in Lincolnshire and Leicester should be encouraged to make similar links. Concern was expressed about those schools on the Lincolnshire coast who would incur expensive travel costs if they got involved in similar visits. It was suggested that two SACREs should work together to help these schools. It was suggested that the offices of the Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP for Leicester East and Britain's long servicing Asian MP, could be used to help progress in this area.

Wendy Harrison stated that there were approximately five other schools in Lincolnshire that had set up links with schools in Leicester but the arrangements needed to be further developed and formalised.

Salma Ravat stated that there was possible funding available to help in this area.

RESOLVED

(a) That Cathryn Jones be thanked for her presentation and the excellent work she was doing to provide links in this area.

(b) That this matter be retained on the agenda for consideration at future meetings.

SACRE received a report which summarised inspectors' judgements on schools' provision for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development in those schools inspected by OFSTED since the last report presented to SACRE on 24 November 2015.

The Chairman stated that from past experience there was a need to distinguish what was relevant and effective in distinguishing which school should be sent a complimentary letter. He stated that following consultations with Wendy Harrison SACRE was recommended to send complimentary letters to St Norbert's Catholic Primary School, Spalding, The Bluecoat School, Stamford and Spalding Grammar School.

Gillian Georgiou stated that Bishop King, Lincoln and Potterhanworth Church of England Primary School had been awarded the Gold Award for the RE Quality Mark (2015). It was agreed that a complimentary letter should be sent to these schools by the Chairman.

RESOLVED

(a) That complimentary letters be sent by the Chairman to St Norbert's Catholic Primary School, Spalding, The Bluecoat School, Stamford and Spalding Grammar School.

(b) That the Chairman also send complimentary letters to the Bishop King School, Lincoln and the Potterhanworth C of E Primary School on being awarded the Gold Award for RE Quality Mark (2015).

(Wendy Harrison, RE Adviser, will provide a verbal update on progress with the Agreed Syllabus which is due to be in schools by September 2017)

Wendy Harrison gave a verbal update and stated that a meeting of the Teachers' working group to consider the Agreed Syllabus which was required to be produced under the Education Act 1996 had been arranged for 11 March 2016. She was also meeting regularly with Gillian Georgiou on this matter. Further meetings of the working group would be arranged and the Agreed Syllabus would be submitted to SACRE for consideration before being submitted to the local authority for approval.

RESOLVED

That the verbal report be noted.

(A report by Gillian Georgiou, Diocesan RE Adviser and Lincoln Cathedral Schools' Officer, which provides an update on Diocesan matters)

SACRE received a report from Gillian Georgiou which provided an update on Diocesan matters since the last meeting. She highlighted the work she was doing on the National Society's RE Development Group which continued to look towards the launch of the "Understanding Christianity" resource, which would enable teachers to deliver high-quality teaching of Christianity in schools.

Gillian Georgiou stated that she had noticed a number of non-Church schools seeking support from the Diocese on RE which was encouraging.

A member of SACRE expressed concern about the format of the Methodist Modern Art Collection at the Cathedral. Gillian Georgiou stated that the showing of exhibitions was an issue in medieval buildings like the Cathedral and added that different education resource packs on the Methodist Modern Art Collection had been sent to schools to meet age requirements.

Councillor C L Strange stated that West Lindsey District Council was undertaking some work on the "Mayflower" project which involved English Separatists (Pilgrims) going to America in the early part of the 17^th Century. He stated that many children had gone on the Mayflower when it went to America.

Gillian Georgiou agreed to speak to Wendy Harrison about this project and how pupils could get involved.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted and Gillian Georgiou agreed to speak to Wendy Harrison about the involvement of school children in the "Mayflower" project.

(This conference is being organised by Gillian Georgiou (Diocese), Wendy Harrison (LA) and Mark Plater (Bishop Grosseteste University) and has a working title of Redirection. The theme is the future direction of RE and so far contributors include Dilwyn Hunt (Chair of AREIAC, national speaker and trainer, member of the RE Council Task Group member on the RE Subject Review); Dr Joyce Miller (recent Chair of the RE Council and the Board of Trustees of the Schools Linking Network, former Chair of the AREIAC and of Bradford SACRE); Mary Myatt (co-founder of the REQM, trainer/consultant, Ofsted inspector); Young Ambassadors from Redhill Academy, Nottingham; teacher and headteacher from Lincolnshire school)

(Note: Councillor J Brockway left the meeting)

SACRE received a verbal report on the arrangements for the RE/SACRE Conference to be held at Bishop Grossteste University on 20 October 2016. Amongst the various arrangements it was proposed to have "Young Ambassadors from Redhill Academy, Nottingham in attendance as key speakers and experts would be present to respond to questions.

The Conference was welcomed and it was hoped that many RE Co-ordinators/Teachers would attend. It was agreed that publicity for the event was important.

SACRE was informed that publicity about the event would be released following confirmation about various arrangements. The point was made that this needed to be done quickly so that expenses could be met from school budgets. SACRE stated that school governors should also be informed about the Conference.

RESOLVED

That the arrangements for the RE/SACRE Conference on 20 October 2016, be noted.

(For information at this stage, to be discussed at the next meeting)

SACRE noted that the Action Plan would be discussed at the next meeting of SACRE.

(In accordance with SACRE's constitution the first meeting in the Autumn Term 2016 is the AGM)

It was agreed that SACRE's AGM would be arranged for 2.00pm on 22 November 2016.

Mrs J Sheldrake agreed to do reflections for the next meeting.