Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room Three, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL

Contact: Steve Blagg  Democratic Services Officer

Items
No. Item

19.

Opening Reflections by Cherry Edwards

Minutes:

Cherry Edwards gave the opening reflections.

20.

Meeting Inquorate

Minutes:

The Clerk stated that the meeting was inquorate as one representative member from each of the four representative groups needed to be present and on this occasion there were no representatives from Committee C (Associations representing Teachers) present. The Clerk informed the meeting that it could continue but decisions would have to be ratified at the next meeting of the SACRE.

21.

Election of Chairman

Minutes:

In accordance with the procedures for election of Chairman detailed in the constitution of the SACRE, it was moved and seconded and

 

RESOLVED

 

That Neville McFarlane BEM be elected Chairman of the SACRE for the ensuing year.

22.

Election of Vice-Chairman

Minutes:

In accordance with the procedure for election of Vice-Chairman detailed in the constitution of the SACRE, it was moved and seconded and

 

RESOLVED

 

That Chris Burke be elected Vice-Chairman of SACRE for the ensuing year.

 

23.

Declarations of Members' Interests

Minutes:

There were no interests declared at this stage of the meeting.

24.

Minutes of the previous meeting of SACRE held on 7 July 2016 pdf icon PDF 136 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 July 2016 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the second paragraph, under the heading "NASACRE CONFERENCE FEEDBACK", being amended to read "Professor Adam Dinham's" (minute 15).

25.

Actions Arising from the Minutes (if not already on the agenda)

25a

Summary of OFSTED Inpections of Lincolnshire Schools with Reference to the Provision for Pupil's Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development (minute 10)

Minutes:

The Chairman stated that Wendy Harrison, RE Adviser, had spoken to the headteacher of Boston Grammar School about the misreporting of the school's SMSC analysis in the Lincolnshire Echo and Boston Target newspapers and the implication in the reports that the teaching of RE in the school was inadequate. It was agreed that the newspaper reports misinterpreted the SMSC report and that the Ofsted analysis did not include any comments about RE at the school. Wendy Harrison visited the school and met with the headteacher and head of RE. Both were satisfied that the SACRE report was in fact accurate. It was clear from the meeting that standards in RE were very high in the school.  The Chairman stated that he had written to both newspapers to explain the situation but had received no acknowledgment and added that the teacher concerned was happy with the outcome and had agreed to join the Agreed Syllabus Working Group. The Chairman stated that Wendy Harrison had amended the heading of the SMSC report to avoid future misunderstandings. NOTED.

25b

A Change to the Constitution and Terms of Reference of SACRE (minute 7)

(Since the previous meeting of SACRE, Councillor Mrs Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services, following legal advice, has decided not to make any changes to SACRE's Constitution in connection with the political balance of the Local Authority's representatives on SACRE as the Education Act 1996 is silent in terms of political balance.  So the Act neither requires nor prohibits political balance for the local authority group. This is information is for SACRE to note only)

 

Minutes:

The Clerk informed the meeting that Councillor Mrs P A Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services, had decided not to make any changes to SACRE's Constitution in connection with the political balance of the Local Authority's representatives on SACRE as the Education Act 1996 was silent in terms of political balance.

25c

The Filling of Vacancies on SACRE

(Christopher (known as "Chris") Rose, Society of Friends has been appointed to Committee A (Christian Denominations and Other Religious Denominations) by Councillor Mrs P A Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services. Committee A are in the process of giving consideration to the nomination of representatives to fill the two remaining vacancies on this Committee)

Minutes:

The Clerk informed the meeting that Christopher (known as "Chris") Rose, Society of Friends, had been appointed to Committee A (Christian Denominations and Other Religious Denominations) by Councillor Mrs P A Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Adult Care, Health and Children's Services. SACRE welcomed Chris Rose to his first meeting.

 

The Chairman stated that Committee A had met prior to this meeting to consider the remaining two vacancies on Committee A and it was their wish to nominate someone from the Lincolnshire Jewish community and someone from the United Reformed Church. The Chairman agreed to let the Clerk have the address details of these two bodies so that he could write to ask for nominations. Nominations received would be sent to Committee A for confirmation and then to Councillor Mrs P A Bradwell for approval. NOTED.

25d

RE/SACRE Conference, Bishop Grossteste University, 20 October 2016

(A verbal update by organisers on why it was necessary to cancel the Conference and lessons to be learnt for the future)

Minutes:

The Chairman stated that it had been hoped to arrange the RE/SACRE Conference at Bishop Grossteste University on 20 October 2016 but that due to lack of demand the Conference had to be cancelled.

 

Mark Plater informed the meeting that the Conference had been advertised in the usual way in schools and in the Diocese but only eleven applications had been received. He stated that in the past it had been common to get between eighty and a hundred people attending although two years ago the Conference had been cancelled due to lack of numbers. He stated that in the absence of a Conference it had been agreed to have walkabout in Lincoln and to visit different places of worship. The group finished at the New Life Church where the opportunity was taken to discuss the future of RE. Mark Plater stated that the walkabout was appreciated and consideration needed to be given to arranging a similar event in the future.

 

The SACRE welcomed the practical aspects of the walkabout and the visits to different religious places of worship. Members agreed that with regard to the latter this provided an opportunity for schools to develop links with different places of worship but it was appreciated that this was difficult in a large and sparsely populated county like Lincolnshire.

 

The SACRE recorded its appreciation to Mark Plater and Gillian Georgiou for organising the alternative arrangements on the 20 October 2016 in place of the Conference at such short notice and the valuable lessons learnt from the day. NOTED.

 

 

26.

SACRE Action Plan pdf icon PDF 164 KB

(A report by Jill Chandar-Nair Inclusion and Attendance Manager and Wendy Harrison, RE Adviser, in connection with the new Action Plan for SACRE. The views of SACRE are sought on the new format and are requested to adopt it)

Minutes:

The SACRE received a report from Wendy Harrison in connection with the need to review its Action Plan. Jill Chandar-Nair stated that the Action Plan was in its early stages of development and that the SACRE had an important role in its development and suggested that the SACRE might want to establish a working party to examine the Action Plan.

 

Comments by the SACRE included:-

 

·    School cluster led RE training was supported as it was easier to utilise Wendy Harrison's time.

·    The Headteachers' Group should be used to disseminate information about RE.

·    Information about RE/SACRE should be sent regularly to schools.

·    The SACRE members needed to visit schools to explain its role and the opportunity should be taken to raise its profile at Headteachers' meetings.

·    The importance of the Agreed Syllabus and the need for all of the SACRE's members to be involved in its development.

·    Schools were interested in the RE Awards, like Westhill.

·    The RE Adviser, Wendy Harrison regularly visited schools to provide advice and support and it was noted that she had raised awareness of the training that would need to be made available to support the new agreed syllabus.

·    Schools showing best practice in RE had been invited to talk to SACRE meetings.

·    Schools wanted more links and welcomed more knowledge about the different faiths in the UK.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the comments made by the SACRE be considered when officers identify the priorities in the Action Plan which will be examined at the next meeting.

27.

Review of SACRE Membership in accordance with SACRE's Constitution pdf icon PDF 58 KB

(In accordance with SACRE's Constitution the membership of SACRE is to be reviewed annually and members should have an interest in education in general and religious education in particular and must either live, work or worship in Lincolnshire. A copy of the current membership of SACRE is attached)

Minutes:

In accordance with its Constitution SACRE was required to review its membership each year.

 

Comments made by SACRE included the absence of a headteacher representative on Committee C and a request that Mark Plater should be appointed to the vacancy on Committee B. Cherry Edwards agreed to speak to the Church of England about Mark Plater's appointment to the vacancy on Committee B.

 

RESOLVED

 

(a) That the membership of the SACRE be noted.

 

(b) That Cherry Edwards speak to the Church of England about Mark Plater's appointment as one of their representatives on Committee B.

 

(c) That the National Association of Headteachers be asked to nominate a representative to fill the vacancy on Committee D.

28.

Summary of Ofsted Inspections of Lincolnshire Schools with Reference to the Provision for Pupil's Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development pdf icon PDF 155 KB

(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 7 July 2016. Please note the slightly new format following the discussion about Boston Grammar School at the last meeting)

Minutes:

SACRE received a report summarising inspectors' judgements on schools' provision for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development (SMSC) in those schools inspected by OFSTED since the last report presented to SACRE on 7 July 2016.

 

SACRE's attention was drawn to action taken to clarify the wording in the report to explain the "overall effectiveness grade" following the inspection at Boston Grammar School reported at the previous meeting of the SACRE.

 

Following an enquiry in connection with what was meant by a "short inspection report", a "short inspection" was normally arranged following a previous detailed inspection. In the meantime it was agreed that Wendy Harrison should circulate an explanation of what was meant by a "short inspection report" to members and include this explanation in future reports.

 

RESOLVED

 

(a) That the report be noted and that Wendy Harrison circulate an explanation of what was meant by a "short inspection report" to members and include this explanation in future reports.

 

(Post meeting note – Wendy Harrison, RE Adviser will provide and explain this information in more details at the next meeting)

 

(b) That letters of commendation be sent by the Chairman to the following schools:-

 

Tydd St Mary Church of England Primary School

Skegness Seathorne Primary School

Deeping St Nicholas Primary School

Boston West Academy

Wyberton Primary Academy

Branston Community Academy

 

(c) That letters be sent to those schools requiring support as follows:-

 

Benjamin Adlard Primary School

Lutton St Nicholas Primary School

Gosberton Academy

Long Sutton Primary School

South Witham Primary School

29.

Notes of Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC) meeting, held on 17 October 2016 pdf icon PDF 345 KB

(Notes of a meeting in connection with the Agreed Syllabus which are submitted for comment by SACRE)

Minutes:

The SACRE received a report summarising the initial meeting of the Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC) held on 17 October 2016, set up to oversee the review of the Lincolnshire Agreed Syllabus for RE.

 

The SACRE was asked for its views on the benefit of having councillor representation on the ASC and following a brief discussion Councillor Elizabeth Sneath stated that she was content for matters to be raised at the ASC to be considered the SACRE when the minutes of the ASC meetings were submitted.

 

Comments made by the SACRE included:-

 

·    Concern about the absence of any reference to Judaism at key stages 1, 2 and 3 due to its importance in the development of Christianity.

·    Concern that by year 7 the teaching of Christianity had reduced substantially in schools.

·    The major religions were celebrated in schools but it was important that the Christian/Judaism history of this country was emphasised at key stages 1 and 2. Other religions could be taught at subsequent key stages.

·    Teachers had requested a more slimmed down version for teaching RE at key stages 1, 2 and 3 as children were getting confused.

·    There were now more non-specialists teaching RE today and therefore a "bit by bit" approach was important.

·    There was less knowledge of RE amongst the general population now than in the past.

·    It was felt that school children needed a better understanding of RE than had been the case in the past.

·    The importance of RE in teacher training as in the long term society would benefit from heightened respect and a more cohesive society.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the comments of the SACRE be noted and, that in particular, the ASC be asked to give further consideration to the compulsory elements taught at key stages 1, 2 and 3 with more emphasis on the teaching of Christianity and Judaism.

30.

Diocesan Update pdf icon PDF 255 KB

(A report by Gillian Georgiou, Diocese RE Adviser, in connection with the latest update of Diocesan matters)

Minutes:

The SACRE received a report which provided an update of education matters affecting the Diocese. Issues highlighted in the report included the Statement of Entitlement for RE released by the Church of England; arrangements for the "Understanding Christianity" training, the second tranche to take place in March 2017 and participation by Gillian Georgiou in the "Places of Worship Learning Walk which had replaced the RE/SACRE Conference on 20 October 2016.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report be noted.

31.

Summary of National Reports and Initiatives in RE pdf icon PDF 274 KB

(A report by Wendy Harrison, RE Adviser, in connection with national reports and initiatives in RE)

Minutes:

The SACRE received a report which provided an update on national reports and initiatives in RE.

 

Comments by the SACRE included:-

 

·    The SACRE now operated in a different world compared to the past and perhaps needed to have a different role. It was noted that many schools in Lincolnshire were now academies not under the control of the Local Authority. However, it was pointed out that academies would welcome help from the SACRE in raising awareness of RE and the Action Plan might provide an opportunity to address this issue.

·    The opportunity to raise awareness of the SACRE should be taken at headteachers' meetings.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the report and comments made by the SACRE be noted.

32.

Dates and Times of Future Meetings

(SACRE normally has four meetings a year. The pattern of meetings is one each School Term and therefore it is suggested that meetings are arranged for 21 February, 25 April, 11 July and 14 November 2017 at 2.00pm)

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That the following dates and times of future meetings of the SACRE be agreed:-

 

Tuesday 21 February 2017

Tuesday 25 April 2017

Tuesday 11 July 2017

Tuesday 14 November 2017 (AGM)

 

All meetings start at 2.00pm.

33.

Opening Reflections at the next meeting

Minutes:

Chris Burke agreed to do reflections at the next meeting.

 

 
 
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