Agenda item

(a)  SACRE Analysis of Top Challenges for SACREs

 

(b)  Teaching and Learning of British Values

 

(c)  Bromley SACRE Teachers Survey

 

(d) School Visits

SACRE Analysis of Top Challenges for SACREs.

 

SACRE Members heard that the Chairman and the RE Consultant attended the NASACRE AGM in May 2015, at which there was a discussion concerning the top challenges facing SACREs.

 

The challenges that were discussed were:

 

·  Problems encountered when trying to engage with schools

·  Problems with a lack of consistency in RE teaching across schools

·  Confusion around the role of SACREs in relation to Academies and Free Schools

·  The perceived decline of RE in Academies and Free Schools

·  Problems encountered in engaging with Academies to develop better working relationships

·  Problems encountered in sharing good practice across SACREs

·  Sharing of resources with neighbouring SACREs

·  Challenges faced in promoting the importance of RE in schools, and also with local authorities and with the Department for Education 

 

The RE Consultant had noted on the SACRE Discussion Support Sheet (Appendix A) that OFSTED were looking at British Values, and that SMSC (spiritual, moral, social and cultural values) would help to highlight the importance of RE. The RE Consultant had sent a survey to all schools in Bromley, and one of the aims of this was to collate email addresses for RE teachers and Co-ordinators. This would help with the process of engaging with schools.

 

The RE Consultant noted on Appendix A that there was not much evidence of the decline of the teaching of RE in Bromley, although it may the case that collective worship was in decline. The RE Consultant noted that there was a need to try and get into more schools, and that new ways of being invited into schools should be investigated.

 

The RE Consultant asked the SACRE Members if they would like to comment further on the problems facing SACREs.   

 

A Member expressed the view that it was difficult to know what to do as the SACRE had no powers to go into a school and investigate—they had to wait to be invited. Not much information was coming from schools, and there was only a network meeting once a year--and that was just with primary schools. A Member expressed the view that the matter of network meetings should be revisited, and possibly expanded. Perhaps it would be possible to include secondary schools as well, if they were open to dialogue with Bromley SACRE.

 

The RE Consultant asked if Councillors visited schools, and that if they did, perhaps they could start talking about the importance of RE in schools. The Chairman felt that the Bromley situation was more difficult because SACRE was dealing mainly with Academies. He felt that grant maintained schools were generally more open to engaging with SACREs.   Cllr Kevin Brooks suggested that it may be a good idea if the Leader of the Council, or the Portfolio Holder for Education sent a letter to Academies to encourage engagement with SACREs. Cllr Mary Cooke suggested that it may be a good idea to draw up a draft letter as a guide.

 

Samantha Barnett, informed SACRE Members that she was trying to arrange for more regular meetings of the Jewish Forum. Mr Mahmood stated that the Darul Uloom School participated in various events when invited, and that he was a regular visitor at school classes and assemblies. It was also noted that some schools in the Borough had been visited by representatives of the Hindu community, and that some primary school children would be visiting a Hindu Temple in the near future.

 

Teaching and Learning of British Values 

 

The RE Consultant had drafted a report dealing with the Teaching and Learning of British Values in the curriculum and its relationship with Religious Education. This was because the new Ofsted Common Inspection Framework included the teaching of British Values.

 

The report was broken down into 5 core areas which were:

 

·  Religious Tolerance

·  Mutual Respect

·  Democracy

·  The Rule of Law

·  Individual Liberty

 

The document contained examples of comments that had been made on the teaching of British Values from early inspection reports. The RE Consultant noted that there had been three different frameworks in the last 18 months. Because of this, retraining had been required, and so not many inspections had taken place last term; one day’s notice only was required for inspections. The SACRE was informed that the new inspections had arisen out of the “Trojan Horse” affair. It was noted that the inspections applied to both primary and secondary schools. Mr Mahmood expressed the view that “British Values” were a small subset of Islam.

 

Reverend Varney stated that he was not keen on the concept of “British Values” in its current form as he felt that the agenda was too narrow. He expressed the view that the introduction of the teaching of democratic values had been brought about in an undemocratic manner, and that no qualities were absolutes. He was of the opinion that there were other moral and spiritual values that transcended the idea of “British Values” and that it was the duty of the SACRE to make this clear. He felt that politicians had little concept of what gave individuals identity, and held communities together.

 

The Chairman commented that “British Values” was in danger of being muddled with spiritual, moral, social and cultural values. Cllr Sarah Phillips felt that the issue was a matter of great significance, and that people were now really giving these matters great consideration. Denise Angell commented that everyone had a responsibility to live their life in a moral fashion, and Jed Stone felt that schools were not giving proper thought to how the subject was being taught. The Chairman expressed concern about the frequency of changes to the Ofsted Common Inspection Framework. Cllr Kevin Brooks disagreed with some of the previous comments, and stated that even if the changes were just headlines, they were important. 

 

Cllr Mary Cooke, referred back to the previous comments made by Rev Varney, and asked what he meant when he had said that the introduction of the teaching of British Values had been undemocratic. Reverend Varney responded by stating that there had been no consultative process with any other bodies, both political and non-political. Cllr Cooke commented that the new framework had been introduced by elected leaders; Reverend Varney responded that he had not elected them.

 

Reverend Varney maintained his view that the policy of teaching “British Values” in schools had been introduced through a process that was undemocratic. A brief discussion followed concerning the relationship between the Christian Faith and Democracy. He stated that God was not democratic, and that God was not open to us voting for him. The Bible was not democratic because God was the moral Absolute. Christianity was a Theocracy as opposed to a Democracy.

 

At this point it was 7.00pm, and the Cllrs serving on the Care Services PDS Committee had to leave—these were Cllrs Mary Cooke, Cllr Robert Evans, and Cllr Kevin Brooks. However, because Cllr Sarah Phillips was present, the meeting was still quorate. 

 

Bromley SACRE Teacher’s Survey

 

A Teacher Survey had been sent out by Bromley SACRE to try and ascertain the needs of RE Coordinators in Bromley. Out of 95 Maintained and academy Schools in Bromley, only 16 responded. The results of the survey were tabled at the meeting.

 

It was noted that 12 schools used the Bromley Syllabus, and that the schools that did not use the Bromley Syllabus were in the main Church Schools. Twelve schools stated that the Bromley Syllabus was easy to adapt, which was good, and similarly, 11 schools stated that they did not have any implementation difficulties which was also good. In the three instances where there were implementation difficulties, 2 instances related to newly qualified teachers, and 1 to a Special School. The RE Consultant was planning to visit these schools to try and assist with implementation.

 

It was noted that 13 respondents stated that they were not able to access the SACRE website via Fronter. The same number of respondents did not subscribe to a Resource Centre, which would explain why they suffered from a lack of resources. Some teachers and RE Coordinators had no idea what Fronter was, and it was not available in all schools. Members of the SACRE felt that this was a matter for the Council to deal with.

 

The SACRE saw from the data on the tabled report, that nine schools did not want a visit from SACRE, three were open to a visit, including St John’s and Trinity. 

 

Reverend Varney enquired who the survey was sent to. The RE Consultant responded that it had been sent to all Head Teachers to forward to RE Teachers and Re Coordinators.  Reverend Varney suggested that a follow up email be sent to Head Teachers in case an RE Coordinator had not responded. There was still time to respond. Mr Mahmood suggested that the SACRE remind schools that their role was a supporting one, and that they were not inspecting schools.

 

School Visits

 

A report had been made concerning a visit undertaken by the RE Consultant and Mr Town to the Hayes School in June 2015.

 

The Sacre Members were informed that previously the RE Department at Hayes was not very well supported. However, this was definitely not the case now, and the situation has turned around. It was concluded that this was now a very good school where religious education was thriving.

 

Reverend Varney asked how the SACRE could identify failing schools. It was suggested that Julia Waldman (Interim Consultant, Schools and Early Years Commissioning and Quality Assurance) be tasked with identifying failing schools.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

(1) The Members of SACRE consider new ways of getting into schools

 

(2) SACRE to reinforce the message that their role was to support, not inspect

 

(3) Councillors be encouraged to promote the importance of RE in Bromley schools

 

(4) A guide letter be drafted that could be used by the Leader and the Portfolio Holder for Education to write to Academies and encourage their engagement with Bromley SACRE