To approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting held on 10 June 2010.

(attached)

RESOLVED

that the Minutes of the meeting of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) held on 10 June 2010 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

The Chairman clarified some points with regards to the minutes as set out below.

(i)         Celebrating RE – It was noted that a walk could be organised along the John  Bunyan Trail, possibly with tea at the end.

(ii)        Feedback from SACRE noted that the HMI (Her Majesty’s Inspector) report did not accurately reflect schools in Bedfordshire as only one school was inspected in the LA.  Voluntary Aided schools are not inspected by HMI.

(iii)       Holocaust Memorial Day 2010 – It was noted that in relation to this item, Redborne Upper School had funded the catering for this event.

The Chairman drew attention to actions taken since the last meeting as set out below.

Clarification would be sought on details for the submission of the Annual Report to QCDA further to changes in that organisation.

The Chairman drew attention to Celebrating RE and presented leaflets listing the celebrations due to take place in March 2011.  The website is now live: www.celebratingre.org. 

The Development Plan had been re-written by the School Improvement Advisor and he asked that any comments be sent to him.  The updated plan is attached to these minutes.

The SACRE noted that more training would be needed now that there are fewer RE Advisors and that there was a need for professional RE groups.  The School Improvement Advisor will contact the Secondary RE Specialist at Redborne Upper School to discuss a review of training. 

The future of Continual Professional Development was considered and a request for more training outside of school hours and on training days.  The School Improvement Advisor indicated that he would contact the voluntary sector.  The Chairman agreed to write a letter to Central Bedfordshire Council asking for clarification on the way forward and what, if any, support they can offer with regards to the Local Authority Curricullum Advisor vacancy.

In connection with resource availability, the Chairman referred to the Faith Directory produced by the Diocese of St Albans and also the Bedfordshire RE website (www.beds-re-resources.org.uk/).

To outline the annual report process and organise the publication process.

The School Improvement Advisor provided the first draft of the Annual Report and asked volunteers to take a section and update it for the next Annual Report.

The following people agreed to be responsible for:-

It was suggested that a letter could be sent out to all schools asking for examples of good practice in RE to use within the report.  The School Improvement Advisor agreed to send out a letter on behalf of Central Bedfordshire SACRE asking that all examples be sent to Nina Leigh who will collate the results.

The School Improvement Advisor also advised that there was a budget of £1000 to cover the printing of the new Annual Report.

To receive the 2010 GCSE and A Level results for RE.

The School Improvement Advisor presented a paper collating the results of the GCSE short courses and full courses on RE based on data from nine of the ten upper schools in Central Bedfordshire.

The School Improvement Advisor informed the Group of an increase in boys taking RE GCSEs in recent years.  Previously it had been predominantly girls.

It was noted that the RE GCSEs had been perceived as being easy but that this had now changed with more specific and more detailed answers being required.

The SACRE was keen to invite presentations at future meetings to gain greater clarity on education matters and ideas were sought on suitable organisations to contact.

To consider the costs and timescales for the Agreed Syllabus.

The School Improvement Advisor presented an updated table of Agreed Syllabus meetings as requested at the last SACRE meeting in June. 

The Chairman noted that a questionnaire was due to be sent out to all schools on the new agreed syllabus and the results collated via Survey Monkey.

To consider the possible options.

It was noted that there was now a partnership between the Diocese of St Albans, Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council for the setting up of the Holocaust Memorial Day.  Enquiries into possible joint funding by the three organisations would be made.

The Chairman informed the Group of a unique Lithuanian exhibition, developed by a group in London, which could be used to form the basis of the 2011 Holocaust Memorial Day.  This exhibition was free to use but there would be cost implications with regards to erection and dismantling.  The Chairman was in discussion with the Partnership to cover funding for this.  It was noted that the exhibition could be extended by including artwork by children from local schools. 

The Chairman asked the Group to consider possible venues and it was agreed to look at the availability of the Council Chamber at Priory House.  The Chairman also asked for ideas to be sent to her for the 2012 Memorial Day.

To further consider the addition of a Humanist representative on the Central Bedfordshire Council’s SACRE.

The SACRE had agreed at the meeting on 10 June 2010 to defer the issue of the response to the letter from the Humanist Society to this meeting.

The Group considered whether to listen to a humanist presentation on the humanist point of view.  A vote was carried out in accordance with the Constitution of the SACRE. 

On the Chairman’s casting vote it was AGREED

to invite a humanist representative to the next meeting of SACRE and that the presentation be held prior to the main meeting. 

The Chairman asked that the group prepare for this by looking at the Humanist website (www.humanism.org.uk) in advance of the presentation.

To explore the relationship between SACRE and the Equality Forum.

The SACRE considered the relationship between SACRE and the Central Bedfordshire Equality Forum and any areas of work which overlapped.  It was agreed to invite Clare Harding, Corporate Policy Advisor (Equality and Diversity) from the Equality Group to do a presentation on their work.