Agenda and minutes

To agree as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 9 May 2013 and to authorise the Chairman to sign them and to address any matters arising therefrom.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 9 May 2013 were agreed and signed by the Chairman. 

Neither Primary nor Secondary representatives had anything to report since the May meeting.

1.            Mr Hugill informed members about NATRE’s 2013 on-line survey and referred to the link in his e-mail of 1 June.  This was the third survey in Secondary schools.  About a thousand schools had taken part in the survey last year, and NATRE hopes for a similar number this year. It is hoped that trends can be identified across the survey data.

2.         A report relating to a Primary sector survey was due to go to press the following week.  It showed that Primary teachers had only four hours’ worth of RE training over a four year period.  RE co-ordinators change about every two years on average and the longest any fulfil that role is five years.  There had been no comment from the Department for Education on this.

3.         The RE Review: Working papers had now been drafted to be considered alongside the National Curriculum.  It might be appropriate to re-draft Havering’s curriculum in the light of this review.  Mr Hugill urged SACRE to engage with the REC Curriculum Review and the clerk was asked to ensure that members were sent the link as there would be a consultation concerning the Review which was due to take place around mid-July.  The task of writing the final document around this RE Curriculum Review had been advertised by the RE Council. 

SACRE members were passed copies of the Michael Edwards’ Award application from the Sacred Heart of Mary’s Girls’ School.  The matter had been raised in the May meeting and, in support of it, Mr Hugill stated that a huge amount of work was being undertaken at the school and, on the strength of its application and based on what he had seen, would SACRE endorse his recommendation that Sacred Heart should be given the award – especially as no other school had submitted anything to challenge it.

Councillor Ford raised a query about whether the work was being undertaken by staff or pupils at the school.  The Award was clearly meant for the activities of children and Sacred Heart’s application appeared to indicate that this was something being envisioned and driven by adults. 

Mr Hugill replied that children were fully engaged in project work and that this involved the community.  After some discussion, SACRE approved the award unanimously.  It was hoped that the presentation could take place during what remained of the Summer Term.

Mrs Payne wondered whether students should not be approached with a view for them to join SACRE.  This would provide it with the student voice – it would also be good to involve students directly in SACRE’s work.

Members decided that this area should be explored as it would make sense to involve not only students, but also to encourage representation from teachers in academies.

To consider the revised draft of SACRE’s Annual Report for the year 2012/13 and to amend and/or approve it and authorise the Chairman and the Clerk to make arrangements for its publication and presentation to Council.

The version presented to members was unanimously approved – once a minor amendment (4.4) had been made.

Dr Lester informed those present that the Interfaith Conference would be taking place at the YMCA on 18 July.  It was proposed that perhaps the Agreed Syllabus Conference should be an item on the October agenda.  It was also suggested that perhaps someone from the Sacred Heart could be invited to the meeting – or even someone from Redbridge (if it was agreed that a joint Conference could be undertaken).

The date for the next meeting of SACRE was agreed at the last meeting and is to be Wednesday 9 October 2013.  At this meeting (to be held at Havering Town Hall commencing at 7.00pm), SACRE members will be invited to elect a new Chair and Vice Chair for the following two year term of office.

Members are also invited to consider whether to set a date for the Spring Term 2014 meeting.

Members were reminded that at its previous meeting, SACRE had decided to hold the Autumn Meeting on Wednesday 9 October 2013 and the start time would be 7.00pm.  Members were also reminded that this would involve the elections for the Chair and Vice Chairmanship