a) NASACRE AGM 23rd May 2013
b) Youth SACRE
c) Faith Directory
d) Islamic Competition
Minutes:
a) NASACRE AGM 23rd May 2013
The Chairman and RE Adviser had attended the NASACRE AGM on 23rd May 2013. The Chairman commented on the keynote address which was shared by HMI Alan Brine (OFSTED national leader for RE) and Dr Mark Chater (Director of Culham St. Gabriel’s Trust). Suggestions for the "next steps" for Bromley SACRE were outlined by the Chairman and discussion took place. The suggestions had been based upon conversations and the question/answer session which took place at the AGM, (see details in the notes of the AGM appended to these minutes.)
Particular points/suggestions raised by SACRE members included the following:
SACRE needed to adopt a positive approach. Efforts needed to be made to increase the awareness of SACRE and make its work/function more widely known.
Head Teachers and Departmental Heads/RE Co-ordinators from schools, including academies could be invited to attend SACRE meetings.
The Chairman and Vice-Chairman should meet with the Assistant Director of Education on a regular basis.
Perhaps more could be done to publicise the work of SACRE, by issuing press statements for particular events, e.g. publicising the Youth SACRE.
Information could be distributed to school governors via updates/newsletters.
It was important to look at connectivity. Periodic meetings of Link Governors were held which most schools attended, and in addition there was a Chair of Governors’ Forum. It was suggested that the RE Adviser could find out more from the Business Development Manager at the Widmore Education Centre who had now taken over responsibility for Governor Support.
Although some schools had access to the “Fronter” system, not all schools subscribed to this. It was suggested that perhaps a SACRE website could be developed which had a private area within the website (password protected) where such documents such as the Faith Directory could be accessed.
b) Youth SACRE
Since the last SACRE meeting, a meeting of the Youth SACRE had taken place which had been organised by the RE Adviser and Fiona Hawkes at Coopers Technology College. The meeting had been very positive and arrangements were being made for pupils to visit St Nicholas’ Church in Chislehurst to make a virtual film, similar to the one which the Youth SACRE had previously made when they visited Bromley Synagogue. The visit to St Nicholas’ Church was due to take place on 24th June 2013, and it was hoped that the film could be shown to members at the next SACRE meeting. The Chairman commented that during conversations with delegates at the NASACRE AGM, other SACRE’s were impressed that Bromley still had a Youth SACRE.
c) Faith Directory
The training session for Faith Directory volunteers had taken place at the Civic Centre on Wednesday 20th March 2013. The RE Adviser reported that it had been very successful and thanked all those who had attended. Photographs had been taken at the event and had been submitted to the Council’s in house newsletter “In Touch”. Subsequently the RE Adviser had produced Guidance on Faith Speakers in schools, plus a list of volunteer speakers which had been circulated to all Bromley schools.
d) Islamic Competition
The prize-giving would take place at Darul Uloom from 6.30pm to 9pm on Thursday 7th November 2013. All SACRE members were invited and were asked to notify Mr Mahmood if they wished to attend. Mr Mahmood would send further details to the SACRE Clerk who would forward these to SACRE members.