Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chair of SACRE for the 2022/23 academic year.

Resolved:-  That Hannah Lambert be appointed Chair for the 2022/23 Academic Year.

(Hannah Lambert in the Chair)

To appoint a Vice-Chair of SACRE for the 2022/23 academic year.

Resolved:-  That Trish Williams be appointed Vice-Chair for the 2022/23 Academic Year.

To receive declarations of interest from any members with respect to an item of business.

There were no declarations of interest.

To determine whether any items on the agenda require the exclusion of members of the public or press

There were no matters of business for which it was deemed necessary to exclude members of the public or press.

To review and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 28 March 2022 as a true and accurate record of the proceedings.

Arising from Minute No. 5 (Rotherham SACRE Development Plan), it was noted the development plan had been updated to include comments made at the previous meeting.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the minutes be agreed as a true record.

(2)  That SACRE members compile a short summary of the key aspects of their faith and forward to Vanessa Gregory.

For information and discussion.

Vanessa Gregory reported that, as a result of her involvement in meetings regarding the incorrect disposal of a religious book, it was felt that this was an issue that needed to be addressed by SACRE and put together a guide on how religious artefacts etc. should be handled in schools.  This had culminated in the document attached to the agenda which was submitted for consideration/discussion.

The section on Islam had been produced in conjunction with the Community Safety Officer (Prevent and Communities) and an inter-faith group.  Advice was sought as to whether Rotherham’s section on Islam should replace the section in that provided by RE Today.

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised and agreed:-

-        Non religious world views: Humanism.  Under the section “The ‘nones’” deletion of the last line beginning “What does it mean for your RE ….”

-        Separate document of “dos and donts”

-        Document split into the individual religions

-        The revised Islam section replace the original

Resolved:-  That the mini guides be approved subject to the above comments.

The Chair to provide an update on the Reporting and Evaluation Toolkit.

In accordance with Minute No. 5 of the previous meeting, discussion ensued on the Reporting and Evaluation Toolkit which had been circulated to SACRE members on 4^th May.

Councillor Keenan and Trish Williams requested that they be sent a hardcopy to enable it to be completed.

Comment was made that it was felt that Rotherham SACRE was not an exact fit to some of the questions resulting in some confusion as to what the response should be.  Some had highlighted parts of one where it was felt SACRE fitted but not others.

Resolved:-  That Members complete and return the document to Sam Mullarkey by email (Samantha.mullarkey@rotherham.gov.uk), or for those receiving a hardcopy via the Town Hall, who would forward it to Vanessa Gregory.

To determine any items which the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency

(1)  Funding

The Chair reported that SACRE was to receive funding from Children and Young People’s Service again as well as funding for Vanessa Gregory’s time out of class to fulfil the role of advisor for Religious Education.  The Subject Leader assessments that herself and Vanessa Gregory had led on would be continuing for the next academic year and had received positive feedback

(2)  Conference

No response had been received as yet.

The Chair would follow up on this matter.

(3) RE Subject Leaders’ Meeting

The recent Subject Leaders’ conference had been Early Years.  The feedback had been, although there was an overview of what religious education looked like in Early Years, there was no specific guide.  This could be an issue from an Ofsted point of view if they asked how the Foundation Stage built the building blocks for RE in Early Years and needed to be some continuity.

It was queried whether a request had been made for the EYFS units to be written up and whether the funding could be used for the work to be undertaken.

Vanessa Gregory would follow up and ascertain the situation.

(4)  Determinations

Trish Williams reported that she had started work on this prior to the lockdown.  However, this would have to be updated to take account of schools that may have become academies in the intervening period.

The next virtual meeting of the Rotherham Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education will be held on 22 September 2022, commencing at 4.00pm

Resolved;-  That a further meeting of the Rotherham Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education be held on Thursday, 22^nd September, 2022, commencing at 4.30 p.m. at Rotherham Town Hall.