Agenda and minutes

The Rotherham SACRE discussed the appointment of the Chair and the Vice-Chair for the remainder of the 2017/2018 and also encouraged volunteers to express interest in these positions for future academic years. In the meantime, it was agreed that Mrs. N. Goodwin be appointed Chair of this meeting, although Mrs. Goodwin stated that she did not intend to offer herself for election for 2017/18.

(Mrs. N. Goodwin in the Chair)

After further discussion, it was:-

Agreed:- That Mrs. T. Williams be appointed Chair of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education for the remainder of the 2017/2018 academic year.

Agreed:- That Mrs. H. Lambert be appointed Vice-Chair of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education for the remainder of the 2017/2018 academic year.

Agreed:- That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 24^th October, 2017 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chair.

Further to Minute No. 5 of the meeting of the Rotherham SACRE held on 24th October, 2017, the Rotherham SACRE meeting received a report of discussions between the Chair and the Curriculum Consultant about the future operation of the SACRE. It was noted that there had also been discussions on this matter with senior management of the Local Authority’s Children and Young people’s Services. These discussions and emphasised the need for the role of the Curriculum Consultant and Local Authority support, especially in terms of :-

- SACRE meetings, including agenda and reports preparation, briefings and post-meeting actions;

- specific preparation of the SACRE annual reports, development plans, the annual Rewards Ceremonies and the annual Religious Education conferences;

- arranging maintenance of the Internet web site and responding to enquiries;

- guidance on Collective Worship;

- consideration of requests from Schools for determinations;

- every five years, revision of the Religious Education syllabus and arrangement of appropriate training for school staff.

It was reported that the Local Authority had allocated a small sum of money to the Rotherham SACRE, which would have to be utilised during the current, 2017/18 financial year. This funding could be utilised in part for the costs of the Curriculum Consultant and in part for the SACRE development work. Members questioned the annual budget allocations to SACRE being made by comparable local authorities.

Agreed:- (1) That the contents of the report of the discussions with the Curriculum Consultant and the Local Authority be noted.

(2) That the funding being provided by the Local Authority in the current financial year (to 31 March 2018) be utilised both for the costs of the Religious Education Curriculum Consultant and for the costs of SACRE development work.

(3) That the newly-elected Chair and Vice-Chair, together with the current Chair of the Rotherham SACRE undertake further discussions with the Curriculum Consultant and with the Local Authority concerning the future arrangements for SACRE, with specific reference to:-

(a) future support from the Local Authority for SACRE, both in terms of officer time and resources, as well as the allocation of recurrent funding to be reviewed on an annual basis and whether the carry-forward of any unspent balance is permissible;

(b) recruitment to the role of Religious Education Curriculum Consultant and whether the previous incumbent is to be re-engaged or an alternative person recruited;

(c) further to (b) above, if the previous incumbent is be re-engaged, there should be a formal, written agreement with the employing School/Academy, including the allocation of a sufficient amount of time to fulfil the requirements of the role effectively and also the arrangements for the annual review of the role;

(d) agreements on (i) the use of any profit or excess of income over expenditure which may result from SACRE events; and (ii) the funding of any losses incurred at such events;

(e) the provision of additional funding specifically for the review of the Religious Education syllabus and the delivery  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

Further to Minute No. 7 of the meeting of the Rotherham SACRE held on 24th October, 2017, the Rotherham SACRE meeting was informed that the South Yorkshire Religious Education Conference 2018 would be taking place on Wednesday, 14th March, 2018 at the Hub, 103 Canklow Road, Rotherham. The arrangements and preparation for this Conference were being undertaken by the RE Today organisation.

Agreed:- That members of the Rotherham SACRE endeavour to attend this Conference.

The Rotherham SACRE meeting noted that the annual REwards ceremony, celebrating good practice in Religious Education, was scheduled to take place during June or July, 2018, at a time and venue to be determined, in order to coincide with the Rotherham Childrens’ Festival.

Agreed:- That all schools and academies be invited to make nominations for consideration at the REwards ceremony.

Further to Minute No. 8 of the meeting of the Rotherham SACRE held on 24th October, 2017, consideration was given to a brief report listing the GCSE, the GCE AS Level and the GCE A Level Religious Education examination results for Rotherham schools for the Summer 2017 sitting.

Members considered that more detailed information about the performance in individual schools ought to be made available. Discussion took place on the extent of pupil take-up of places for these qualification courses in Religious Education, as well as the syllabus contents and the requirements of the various examination boards

Agreed:- That the information about the Religious Education examination results 2017, as now reported, be noted.

Further to Minute No. 9 of the meeting of the Rotherham SACRE held on 24h October, 2017, it was agreed that, in association with the Local Authority, every endeavour be made to publish an annual report containing the required, mandatory information.

It was agreed that the working group established at the meeting on 24th October, 2017 (Minute No. 10 refers) shall meet and consider both the SACRE development plan and also proposals for utilising the funding being provided by the Local Authority during the 2017/18 financial year (as detailed at Minute No. 16 above).

Reference was made to the  RE Today “Spirited Arts” annual competition which enabled teachers to incorporate the art competition into their Religious Education lessons. The competition lasted for a full school year and entries were submitted to and judged by the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE). The results would be announced during September, at the beginning of the next academic year. The themes of the competition would change each year. The Rotherham SCARE noted that the Newman School had won a “Spirited Arts” award and offered congratulations to the School, its pupils and staff.

Agreed:- That the next meeting of the Rotherham SACRE take place during June or July, 2018. on a date and at a venue to be arranged, in order to coincide with the Childrens’ Festival (with the annual REwards ceremony, celebrating good practice in Religious Education, to follow the SACRE meeting on this same date).