Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Mrs Hawkes, Mrs James, Mrs Michaelis and Rev Varney. Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Payne who had earlier attended another meeting. The Chairman welcomed the new Councillor members to the meeting and introductions took place. It was noted that this would be the last SACRE meeting for Mr Green from Bullers Wood School, who would be moving to a new school outside the Borough in September 2010.

None.

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting on 2 February 2010 be confirmed.

Matters Arising:

Item 7) Students had been invited to attend the summer meeting of SACRE, but were unable to do so due to examination commitments. It was hoped that they would be able to attend the next meeting.

Item 8) Dr Searle reported that he had just received notification that the Secretary of State for Education had announced that the Qualification and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) was to be abolished within a few months. The Chairman commented that he hoped the expertise of Mark Chater the QCDA RE Consultant would not be lost.

a)  NASACRE AGM

b)  London SACRE

c)  Islamic competition 2010

d)  6^th Form Conference- Prevent

e)  Holocaust Event

f)  RE Celebrations 2011

g)  Faith Directory

a)  NASACRE AGM

The Chairman and RE Adviser had attended the NASACRE meeting on 12^th May 2010, when Clare Short had given a keynote address on “Religion, Politics and Community: SACREs capacity to engage”. (Notes of the address are attached to these minutes - Appendix 1). The meeting saw the launch of the CD “Effective SACREs” which gives guidance on the materials available to help SACREs become successful.

b)  London SACRE

 Members had been invited to attend the annual meeting of the London and South-East SACREs, to be held at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church on 18^th June 2010. Councillors Charsley and Manning and Mr Mahmood wished to attend. The clerk to SACRE would arrange the booking for them.

c)  Islamic competition 2010

Mr Mahmood informed the meeting that so far only one school had confirmed their attendance at this event which was to take place at Darul Uloom on 4^th November 2010 between 7-9pm. All schools had been invited to participate. Members of SACRE were also invited, but were asked to notify Mr Mahmood at least one week beforehand if they wished to attend, in order to assist with catering. The RE Adviser and Councillor Manning had previously attended the event which was most enjoyable and appreciated by all, including teachers, students and parents who had attended.

d)  6^th Form Conference- Prevent

At the previous SACRE meeting a presentation had been given by the Head of Community Safety which emphasised the importance of community cohesion.

The RE Adviser informed SACRE members that there was to be a conference for Year 12 students at the Education Development Centre on 15^th July 2010. SACRE faith members were asked if they might be able to take part in a question and answer session at the conference lasting about half an hour. The RE Adviser agreed to email faith representatives with more information on what would be required. The Police would be at the conference with an “Act Now” presentation, and there would also be a theatre group attending.

A conference for teachers on Community Cohesion was planned for the 9^th July 2010, when Lat Blaylock would be speaking. The SACRE RE Adviser had notified Bromley schools of the event which was being run by Jan Thompson, RE Adviser for the Rochester Diocese.  It was understood that so far only four teachers had booked into the conference but ten were needed in order for it to be viable.

e)  Holocaust Event

An event as part of the “Legacy of Hope” programme was organised by Mandy King, (Pupil Support Service), and had been held at Cator Park School on 10^th March 2010. (This event had been launched on 27^th January 2010 – Holocaust Memorial Day.) Several schools had been involved and Mr Mahmood had given a presentation at the event. The RE Adviser commented that the occasion had been very good and had incorporated dancing, acting, poetry and drawing. Mandy King hoped to run the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Report No. DCYP10072

The RE Adviser informed members that it was hoped a speaker would be able take part in the annual event for 2010 by talking on the value of excellent Religious Education. The Assistant Director for Learning and Achievement suggested that the Chairman and RE Adviser meet outside of the meeting to discuss arrangements on when and where the event should take place and let him have details of the costs involved. A possible venue would be the Education Development Centre during Interfaith week, 22^nd - 26^th November 2010 (although it was not essential that the event took place during this week if the speaker was not available). Previous annual events had included the 6^th Form Conference, a speaker from the Canterbury Diocese and a talk on Self-Evaluation by Mark Chater from the QCDA.

The Chairman expressed the view that it would be good to have a speaker who would be of particular benefit to teachers. Ms Tranchina said it would be helpful for Primary Schools to have information about using the internet as a resource. Mr Stone suggested that it would be good to look at philosophy for children and the Assistant Director agreed with this. He thought it would be good to have a speaker during the “twilight” session to give professional leadership.

RESOLVED that the Chairman, RE Adviser and Assistant Director for Learning and Achievement meet to discuss the event.

Report No. DCYP10073

The Youth SACRE had been formed as a result of the 6^th Form Conference which was the annual SACRE event in 2009. The youth SACRE had meet twice on the 2^nd March and 27^th April 2010, and the notes of their meetings were circulated with the SACRE agenda. The RE Adviser informed the meeting that Year 13 students from Hayes school who had attended the second meeting said that they would go back to school to talk about Youth SACRE to the year 11 pupils. The next meeting of the Youth SACRE was due to take place on 16^th June 2010. The students were very keen on a SACRE website and had lots of ideas for it. They planned to meet early on the 16^th June in the IT suite at Cooper’s Technology School to put together some ideas. (Incorporating the faith directory on the SACRE website had been discussed under item 4(g) above.) The Chairman commented on the very positive feedback from the Youth SACRE and agreed to write to the five Head Teachers who had been involved to express SACRE’s appreciation.

RESOLVED that

(i)  members note the information from the Youth SACRE and endorse the work carried out so far and;

(ii)  the Chairman write to the Head Teachers of the schools involved with Youth SACRE.

Report No: DCYP10074

At the previous meeting it was decided that some time would be spent at the May meeting looking at the Bromley Agreed Syllabus in accordance with the development plan. Members had been sent the internet link to the current syllabus. Whilst there was time before the Agreed Syllabus Conference needed to be held, the opportunity was taken to raise awareness of the current syllabus. The RE Adviser outlined the current RE syllabus for both Primary and Secondary Schools in Bromley. The publication currently in use for primary schools in Bromley was the “Bromley Primary Scheme of Work for Religious Education 2004” published by LB Bromley. For secondary schools the documents used were “Religious Education: the non-statutory national framework 2004”, published by the Department for Education & Skills, and the “Bromley Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (2007) published by LB Bromley.

The Chairman and RE Adviser gave a verbal report on syllabus information given at the QCDA conference held in March 2010. A new document entitled “RE in English Schools: Non Statutory Guidance 2010, had been published by the Department for Children Schools and Families.

The RE Adviser stated that in Bromley it had been decided it was not appropriate for secular study at primary schools, but secular views were taught in secondary schools. Christianity was however the core religion to be studied at each stage.

The RE Adviser commented that some teachers were not happy with the study of Pilgrimages in Year 6, and some teachers at Key stage 1 felt that the syllabus was a “bit dull” and added things to it.  The Rev Camp stated that he would not like to see pilgrimages disappear from the curriculum, and asked what teachers added to the syllabus. The RE Adviser said that sometimes the teachers added information in about other faiths, especially if they had children from a non-Christian faith in their class. Teachers had expressed anxiety not about content but about support to deliver RE education.  Mark Chater from the QCDA had worked with a number of SACREs on what the syllabus might look like. The ideas being put forward were that the Primary Curriculum was going to be much freer, and more about concepts than content.

Ms Tranchina commented that often in Primary Schools RE was taught by non-RE specialists who were happy to use the current guidance.  The RE Adviser added that often class room assistants were also expected to help with teaching RE.

The Assistant Director for Learning and Achievement suggested that Bromley should look objectively at neighbouring authorities to see what they were doing.

The Chairman made the following comments:

1. A stronger picture needed to be obtained about what Religious Education really looks like in schools - more anecdotal evidence is needed. It is necessary to find the true picture of what teachers want in order to help them teach and deliver.

2. Bromley should maintain its distinctiveness as an Authority

3. A modern and relevant curriculum should be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Report No. DCYP 10075

The RE Adviser had been asked to look at the progress which had been made towards being an advanced SACRE. The RE Adviser referred to the Bromley SACRE Self-Evaluation results for Autumn 2008 and considered that Bromley were not yet an established SACRE for items 5B (Knowledge and understanding of the local religious, cultural, ethnic community) and 5C (Understanding the intrinsic contribution RE can make to social and racial harmony), although the Youth Conference and Youth SACRE had helped towards this. With reference to item 5D (Links to the LA initiatives promoting social and racial harmony) it would be helpful if SACRE had more knowledge of Local Authority initiatives and were able to contribute towards these. The Chairman remarked that he had previously met with The Head of Community Safety and Councillor Bloom, the former Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Safety. Councillor Payne suggested that Councillor Peter Morgan, the new Portfolio Holder for Public Protection and Safety and Chairman of the Safer Bromley Partnership should be added to the distribution list for SACRE minutes.

The RE Adviser reported that NASACRE were producing a new version of the self evaluation tool; “Reporting and Evaluating Tool Kit” which was to be launched on 18^th June 2010. The Chairman and RE Adviser would look at the document when published and report back at the next meeting. The Chairman commented that the new document would help to establish priorities and would assist in preparing the annual SACRE report.

RESOLVED that the Chairman and RE Adviser report back at the next meeting on the new self-evaluation tool.

Report no. DCYP10076

The RE Adviser reported on the successful visits to St Paul’s Cray Primary School and Bishop Justus CE School which had taken place during the Spring term. No arrangements had yet been made for visits during the Summer term. The RE Adviser had tried to organise a visit to Hayes School and Councillor Manning one of the schools governor’s said that she would follow this up. Mr Green and Mr Stone from Bullers Wood School thought a visit to their school might be possible and the Rev Camp suggested that a visit to Parish school could be made. Mr Riat and Councillor Payne indicated that they would be willing to accompany the RE Adviser on a visit. The Chairman asked other members to let the RE Adviser know if they might be available as it would be good to get as many SACRE Members as possible to attend school visits. The school visits assisted with informed debate and enabled members to get an idea of pressures experienced by teachers.

RESOLVED that the reports of the school visits be noted.

None.

Wednesday 20^th October 2010 at 6.30pm

Wednesday 20^th October 2010 at 6.30pm. Councillor MacMull submitted her apologies for the meeting.

The Chairman to move that the Press and public be excluded during consideration of the items of business listed below as it is likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings that if members of the Press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS AMENDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) (VARIATION) ORDER 2006, AND THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

The Chairman moved that the press and public be excluded during the consideration of the item of business referred to below as it was likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information.

The following summary

refers to matters involving exempt information

RESOLVED that the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd February 2010 be confirmed.

The meeting ended at 8.50pm

  Chairman