Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Room 15, Priory House, Chicksands, Shefford

Contact: Miss H Bell  0300 300 4040

Items
No. Item

[NOTE this meeting of SACRE was not quorate as there was no representative from Group A present.]

 

 

1.

Election of Chairman

 

To elect a Chairman for the municipal year 2014- 2015.

 

Minutes:

 

Nominations were invited for the Chairman of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education for this meeting.  Jane Chipperton was duly proposed and seconded.  There were no other nominations.

 

RESOLVED

 

that Jane Chipperton be elected as Chairman of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education for this meeting.

 

 

2.

Appointment of Vice Chairman

 

To appoint a Vice Chairman for the municipal year 2014 – 2015.

 

Minutes:

 

The Chairman invited nominations for the Vice-Chairman of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education for this meeting.  Councillor Mrs R Drinkwater was duly proposed and seconded.  There were no other nominations.

 

RESOLVED

 

that Councillor Mrs R Drinkwater be elected as Vice-Chairman of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education for this meeting.

 

 

3.

Minutes of the Last Meeting pdf icon PDF 55 KB

To approve the minutes of the last meeting of SACRE held on 22 January 2014. (Attached pages 5 to 7)

 

Minutes:

 

RESOLVED

 

that the minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2014 be confirmed as a correct record, subject to Councillor Pepworth being added to the list of apologies.

 

 

4.

Focus on Religious Education at Redborne Upper School, Ampthill pdf icon PDF 2 MB

To receive a presentation from Kathleen Eldridge on the focus of Religious Education at Redborne Upper School, Ampthill.

 

Minutes:

 

The Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) received a presentation on Religious Studies at Redborne Upper School, Ampthill.  The School’s aim was to encourage students to learn from different religions, beliefs, values and traditions while exploring their own beliefs and questions of meaning.  Philosophy and ethics was the GCSE offered by the Religious Studies department.  A copy of the presentation is attached at Appendix A.

 

An example of a GCSE and GCE paper was tabled at the meeting along with an example of the response to the GCSE paper written by an A* student.

 

SACRE discussed the best way to provide school governors with an insight into the role of SACRE.  It was suggested that this might be done by either a presentation at the Governor’s Forum or an article in Governor Essentials.  The Council also discussed their duty to monitor Religious Studies within schools and suggested that a working group be set up to take on this responsibility.

 

SACRE requested that the School Intervention Manger write to the Headteacher of Redbourne Upper School praising the work of Katherine Eldridge.

 

NOTED the presentation.

 

 

5.

Draft Development Plan 2014- 2015 pdf icon PDF 90 KB

 

To note the Development Plan 2014 – 2015. (Attached pages 10 to 11)

 

Minutes:

 

The Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) considered the proposed Development Plan for April 2014 to March 2015.  The aim of SACRE was to:-

 

·         ensure that high quality RE and Collective Worship opportunities are delivered in Central Bedfordshire schools;

·         use the expertise of SACRE Members to support the Agreed Syllabus and accompanying scheme of work; and

·         to signpost school RE Subject Leaders to publications and personnel to enhance the RE curriculum within schools.

 

SACRE discussed their Membership and felt that it needed revisiting due to non-attendance of Members on the Council.  SACRE’s terms of reference states that if a member was absent for 3 or more consecutive meetings for any reason not acceptable to the Council there should be deemed to be a vacated place to be filled for that class of members.

 

SACRE were pleased that schools were working towards or had received the RE Quality Mark.  It was suggested that a report be submitted to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee to highlight this award as the Council was providing the funding for this.

 

NOTED the Development Plan for SACRE for April 2014 – March 2015.

 

 

6.

Religious Education Quality Mark Update

 

To note an update on the Religious Education Quality Mark.

 

Minutes:

 

Lucy Chapman, Primary School representative was pleased to announce that Sutton Lower School had been awarded Gold for their Religious Education Quality Mark following a rigorous assessment. Sutton Lower School were now in a position to support other schools who were applying for this Quality Mark.

 

St George Church of England School, Toddington had been awarded Silver. 

 

NOTED the update.

 

 

7.

Spiritual, Moral Cultural and Social Comments from Ofsted pdf icon PDF 72 KB

To note Spiritual, Moral, Cultural and Social comments from Ofsted inspection results, January 2014 – April 2014. (Attached pages 13 to 14)

 

Minutes:

 

The Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) considered the comments on the Spiritual, Moral Social and Cultural aspects of the Ofsted Subsidiary Guidance for various schools in Central Bedfordshire.

 

As this was a public document SACRE requested that the following additional information be provided:

 

·         town/village of the school;

·         the date of the last school Ofsted inspection and their score; and

·         if the school was Church of England.

 

NOTED the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural aspects of guidance from Ofsted as set out in the report.

 

 

8.

NASACRE Update

To note an update from the Chairman on NASACRE.

 

Minutes:

 

The Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) received an update from the Chairman on NASACRE’s. Lucy Chapman, Primary School Representative and the Chairman had attended NASACRE’s AGM in London.

 

The Chairman circulated a summary of proceedings from NASACRE’s AGM along with a summary from Stephen Lloyd MP who spoke at the AGM highlighting his commitment to RE and SACRE.  It had been a good opportunity to network with representatives from other SACREs including neighbouring authorities. 

 

NOTED the update.

 

 

 

 

9.

Date of next meeting

To note the date of the next meeting to be held on 21 October 2014.

Minutes:

 

SACRE thanked the School Intervention Manager for his work with SACRE as this would be his last meeting.

 

The next meeting would take place on Tuesday 21 October 2014 in Room 14, Priory House, Shefford.