Agenda item

Report CSD19165

The current SACRE Terms of Reference had been agreed in July 2018. At the SACRE meeting on the 3^rd July 2019, it was suggested that the Terms of Reference should be reviewed.

A Member asked for clarification of the references made to ‘community’ and ‘county’ schools, in sections 1.1 and 1.4, and questioned whether sections 1.2 and 1.3 should be strengthened. The LBB Head of Service for Early Years, School Standards and Adult Education advised that community schools were those that were maintained by the Local Authority. The SACRE RE Advisor said that, in addition to advising and encouraging, the SACRE was required to report on the implementation of the collective worship requirements and Agreed Syllabus, and agreed that this should be made clear in the document.

In section 2.2, the SACRE RE Advisor suggested that reference should be made to the possibility of the Councillor representatives changing each year, whilst the time limit of four years for other Members should be removed. Members agreed, and noted that the long service of representatives on the SACRE was a benefit.

The Chairman advised that section 2.7 highlighted a live issue for the SACRE, in relation to monitoring attendance at meetings. It was suggested that a request could be included for those sending apologies to provide a substitute, where possible. A Member questioned if this was felt to be necessary. The SACRE RE Advisor responded that low attendance could stop the SACRE from making a quorate vote, and that representatives needed to be aware of their public duty. It was further suggested that if a Member resigned, they should be responsible for ensuring that a replacement was sought from their relevant nominating body, as this was not the duty of the SACRE. The Chairman noted that they were in the process of contacting those Members that had not attended a SACRE meeting recently, and had not sent apologies.

A Member considered that information on the procedure for if the Chairman and Vice-Chairman were both absent from the meeting should be included in the document, and clarification of whether at least one of them needed to be in attendance for the meeting to be quorate.

Following a discussion, SACRE Members agreed that:

-  Section 1 – Terms of Reference be reduced down to fewer items.

-  The term ‘Local Authority Maintained schools’ be used.

-  The requirement to report on the implementation of the collective worship requirements and Agreed Syllabus be included.

-  Section 2.2 to reference that Councillor representatives could change each year, and the time limit of four years for other Members be removed.

-  Section 2.7 to request that any Member sending apologies provide a substitute, where possible.

-  If a Member resigned, they were responsible for ensuring that a replacement was sought from their relevant nominating body.

-  Clarification of the procedure if the Chairman and Vice-Chairman were both absent: that these roles could be elected for the duration of the meeting.

The amended SACRE Terms of Reference would be provided to the next meeting of the SACRE.

RESOLVED that the amendments to the SACRE Terms of Reference be agreed.