Issue - meetings

Item ED14040

SACRE members visit local schools in order to observe the teaching of RE and to offer support to the RE Co-ordinator of the school. On 11^th November 2013 the Chairman and RE Adviser visited Darrick Wood School and on 22^nd November 2013 four Members of SACRE visited Valley Primary School. Reports of the visits were submitted to SACRE Members for consideration.

The RE Adviser informed SACRE Members that she had visited Cudham CE Primary School with Rev Roger Bristow that morning and a report would be submitted to their next meeting. In addition arrangements had been made for visits to Clare House Primary School on 19^th May 2014 (am) and Keston Primary School on 4^th June 2014 (pm). Mr Mahmood and Edlene Whitman would be able to accompany the RE Adviser to Clare House School and Samantha Barnett and Rev Steve Varney would be able to accompany her on the visit to Keston Primary School. 

It had been suggested by the SACRE Working Party, (which met in December 2013 to consider the Development Plan)  that it would be helpful for SACRE Members to have a tick list/sheet for making comments when visiting schools. Arising from this the RE Adviser had prepared suggested draft guidelines for consideration and discussion by SACRE Members.

Whilst SACRE Members generally felt it would be useful to have an “Aide Memoire” when visiting schools, it was important to make it clear that the visit was not an inspection.  In particular, the teacher representatives on SACRE expressed concern on the suggested classifications of “Outstanding” “Satisfactory” and “Poor” on the form relating to “Commentary on an RE Lesson” (as this terminology was used for inspections), and it was agreed that these headings should be deleted. It was suggested that perhaps the best way forward would be for SACRE Members, (in particular the teacher representatives) to email their comments and suggestions on the guidance to the RE Adviser.

RESOLVED that

(i)  the reports of the school visits be noted,

(ii) arrangements for the visits to Clare House Primary School and Keston Primary School  be noted,

(iii) representatives on SACRE to let the RE Adviser have their comments on the draft guidelines for Bromley SACRE Members when visiting schools.