Agenda item

a)  NASACRE AGM – 23^rd May 2012

b)  Youth SACRE

c)  Inter-faith walks

d)  All Party Parliamentary Group – information paper attached

a)  NASACRE AGM – 23^rd May 2012

The Chairman and RE Adviser had attended the NASACRE AGM on 23^rd May 2012. The Chairman commented on the keynote address by Professor Robert Jackson who had spoken on “Research and European Policy Making on Religious Education: taking account of young people’s views in developing the subject”. In addition Sarah Smalley, a member of the RE Council also spoke on the State of Religious Education. (Notes of the AGM are attached to these minutes – Appendix 1.)

b)  Youth SACRE

The RE Adviser reported that the Youth SACRE had made a very eloquent presentation at the inter secondary school “Neighbourhood in-Service Training” event on 24^th February 2012 at Bullers Wood School. 

Emma Honey from Kemnal Technology College remarked that she found it frustrating that schools which were not part of the Bromley Schools Collegiate were unable to participate in such events. The Head of Education Commissioning and Business Services explained that the Collegiate was a formal teacher training partnership of half of the secondary schools in Bromley and suggested that this might be something she could discuss with Emma Honey outside of the meeting.

In response to a further point raised by Emma Honey the RE Adviser confirmed that Youth SACRE events normally took place after school at 4.30pm.

It was noted that there had not been a meeting of the Youth SACRE since the spring term and it was hoped a meeting would be arranged before the end of the summer term. The RE Adviser would contact Fiona Hawkes and Jed Stone (both Members of SACRE) who were involved with the Youth SACRE.

c)          Inter-faith Walks -14^th and 15^th July 2012

This item had been considered at the previous meeting (Minute 29a). The Chairman reported that Dr Peter Boydon had compiled a suggested walk around the Bromley north area which had been submitted for consideration by the South London Inter Faith Group. However, due to limited inter-faith venues in the Bromley area it had been decided that it was not “inter-faith” enough. Patricia Colling said that she had attended a meeting of the South London Inter Faith Group earlier in the month. It had been suggested that Bromley could join the inter-faith walk being organised in the Lewisham and Catford area. However, she reported that plans were now being made for an afternoon/early evening walk on Sunday 15^th July 2012, visiting six to eight churches in the Bromley area, using Dr Boydon’s walk as a basis. It was hoped that a visit to the Bromley Reform Synagogue might also be incorporated. As soon as details were finalised Mrs Colling would inform the clerk to SACRE who would notify SACRE Members of the arrangements.

The RE Adviser encouraged SACRE members to join the walk if they were able to do so. The Chairman said that he would write to Dr Boydon to thank him for the work which he had undertaken.

d)    All Party Parliamentary Group

An All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Religious Education had been set up and a paper was submitted to SACRE Members for information, (see also Minute 33B – Matters Arising). The APPG would comprise a group of well informed and positively disposed MPs and peers available to be contacted about particular campaigns and issues and would help keep RE on the national government agenda.

(Councillor Carr left the meeting after consideration of this item.)