Agenda item

Report No. DCYP12016

The Chairman and RE Adviser had met with Beverley Johnston, Head of Education Commissioning and Business Services to discuss the development plan for Bromley SACRE for the next 15 months.  A draft development plan had been prepared and was circulated at the meeting for discussion. (See Appendix 2). It was noted that the priority of a SACRE is to monitor RE and collective worship in schools and support schools in the provision of excellent RE.

Over the previous year SACRE had discussed the need for a review of the Bromley Agreed Syllabus, which was launched five years ago, and a review of the 2004 handbook used in primary schools (scheme of work).  This needed to be decided upon, as the law dictated that a review must take place every five years. Some of the more recently appointed SACRE members* did not have a copy of the Agreed Syllabus and the RE Adviser agreed to email a link to them. (*Councillor Adams, Councillor Norrie, Samantha Barnett and Sue Polydorou) (Action PSO)

It was reported that the budget for SACRE for the financial year 2012/13 would remain the same as that for 2011/12, with the number of days allocated for the RE Adviser remaining at 35 days per annum. Therefore in order to carry out a review of the syllabus some aspects of the development plan might have to be given a lesser priority.

Reverend Varney expressed the view that it was important not to drop SACRE objectives and suggested that perhaps some of the work currently carried out by the RE Adviser, such as school visits could be delegated to SACRE members. The RE Adviser stated that delegation was something she had considered.  However, with regard to school visits she felt that these were also a useful opportunity for her to discuss issues with teachers. Reverend Varney suggested that perhaps one of the SACRE members attending a visit could write up the report. He also questioned whether the SACRE Annual Report needed to be produced and was advised that this was a statutory requirement. Reverend Varney said that perhaps this was something which could also be delegated. The Chairman concurred with the view that delegation was a good idea.

Virginia Corbyn commented that the law stated only the Agreed Syllabus had to be reviewed and it was not essential that the scheme of work had to be updated at this time. The RE Adviser suggested that it is the 2004 scheme of work that needs updating to include new cross curricular activities as much as the Agreed Syllabus. Emma Honey remarked that one of the strengths about the Bromley Agreed Syllabus was that it was supported by guidance from the scheme of work.

The RE Adviser confirmed that the review would not start with a blank sheet of paper and the current Agreed Syllabus would be used as a basis. She advised that the review would involve contacting schools to ask the RE co-ordinators what they liked and disliked about the current syllabus. A working party to include teachers would need to be set up. The RE Adviser remarked that she was currently working with Croydon SACRE to produce a new syllabus. Councillor Adams asked if there was any scope in working with Croydon to produce the Bromley syllabus. The Chairman commented that there was in fact a big difference in the cultural make up of the two boroughs. Fiona Hawkes suggested that perhaps Bexley SACRE would be a more appropriate match. The RE Adviser said that she had looked at their syllabus and it appeared to be quite good.

Reverend Varney asked over what period of time the review would take place. He was informed that this would probably cover four terms. The new Agreed Syllabus would need to be ready before the end of the summer term 2013 for implementation in September 2013.

The Chairman suggested that he and the RE Adviser should meet to discuss the process of the forthcoming review and to determine how many days it would take to complete and inform Beverley Johnson of this and the estimated costs of production by the end of the Spring term. They would report back to SACRE at their next meeting with details of the number of days the RE Adviser would need to allocate to this. Further discussion could then take place on prioritising the other objectives of SACRE and how these could be met.

RESOLVED that

(i) the Chairman and  RE Adviser should meet to devise a plan/ timescale for the review of the Agreed Syllabus;

(ii) a report of progress to be made at the SACRE  meeting to  be held on 30^th May 2012.