Issue - meetings

Report No. ED13026

School visits during the Autumn term had been organised by the Chair of SACRE to allow the RE Adviser time to continue working on the Bromley RE Syllabus revision.

On 21^st November 2012 the Chairman, Councillor Charsley and Samantha Barnett visited Castlecombe Primary School, and on 3^rd December 2012 the Chairman, Councillor Mrs Manning and Mr Mahmood visited Hayes Secondary School. Reports of the visits were considered by SACRE Members.

Samantha Barnett commented that she had been impressed with the visit to Castlecombe School and that the children had been very engaged. She had found the visit very useful and it had been particularly interesting to see such diversity within a Bromley school. The Chairman drew SACRE Members attention to the key issues for SACRE outlined at the end of the report.

With regard to the visit to Hayes school Councillor Mrs Manning highlighted the fact that the school was very keen to work with “feeder” schools. She also suggested that perhaps the pupils at Hayes school could be encouraged to take part in the Youth SACRE. The RE Adviser said she had been in contact with the Head of the RE Department at the school about Youth SACRE, and would notify him when a meeting date had been arranged.

The Chairman commented on the excellent presentation given by year 9 students on the topic of “Religious Education, Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Development at Hayes School” and remarked that perhaps the presentation could be shown to SACRE Members at a future meeting. Jed Stone and Emma Honey suggested that perhaps they could arrange for some of their pupils to attend a future SACRE meeting to give a similar presentation/talk. Members considered this to be a good idea. If possible arrangements would be made for pupils to attend the summer meeting of SACRE.

RESOLVED that

(i)  the reports of the school visits be noted and arrangements be made for visits to take place during the Spring term.

(ii)  If possible arrangements be made for students to attend the next meeting of SACRE to give a presentation to Members.

(Councillor Jefferys and Mr Town left the meeting after consideration of this item.)