Agenda item

SACRE ACTION PLAN (INCLUDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH SCHOOLS)

Minutes:

The SACRE RE Adviser had provided Members with an updated SACRE Action Plan for the period September 2022-September 2023. The SACRE RE Adviser highlighted that the actions were coloured coded and those marked in green were complete.

 

The SACRE RE Adviser noted that the first Primary and Secondary RE Network meetings for teachers had taken place, and the second meetings would be held the following week. The first of the bi-annual newsletters had been circulated to schools, and the second was due to be sent in May 2023. As previously mentioned, the information relating to the inter-faith competition had been sent to schools; the SACRE Annual Report 2021-2022 had been submitted to the relevant organisations; and the REal Resources were in the process of being reviewed.

 

At the last meeting, discussions had taken place about engaging with school Governors and supporting them in developing RE in their schools. As agreed, a Governor survey/questionnaire had been drafted and it was planned that it would be sent to schools for the Chair of Governors to complete. Questions would focus on what they knew about the RE delivered in their school and  what they would like further support with. It was noted that the Chairman would also be attending the Local Authority’s Governor Forum to introduce and explain the survey. The Chairman suggested that a further question could be added to the survey to ask if Governors were aware of what their school website said about RE – it was highlighted that, as a minimum, school websites should state which RE syllabus was being followed.

 

With regards to the Faith and Belief Forum (FBF) Project, the SACRE RE Adviser noted that she was involved in running a pilot programme with several schools, including two Bromley schools, to increase parental engagement with RE in schools. The pilot scheme would involve schools receiving five lesser-known artefacts from a religion or world view, which would not be holy or sacred, but were used for certain practices. The parents would be invited to host the artefacts in their own homes and, with the use of a questionnaire, be asked to reflect upon the concept to which items related and how they might be used. The responses would be collated and shared with participating parents at a school-based event, along with an explanation from the relevant worldview/religion. The project aimed to increase both inter-faith dialogue and parental engagement. An online CPD session would be held for teachers on 23rd March 2023 to explain the project. In response to questions, the SACRE RE Adviser said that phase one of the project was only for primary schools but, if successful, it may be extended into a second phase which could include secondary schools. Once the pilot project was completed, a report could be provided.

 

A Member enquired if the project would be differentiated by the age range of pupils. The SACRE RE Adviser said that this would form part of the discussions at the teacher CPD session, considering how they might share the five items across their schools and if they would be matched to particular areas of the curriculum.

 

With regards to the teacher materials, the SACRE RE Adviser noted that, following some feedback on the materials that had been trialled, slight changes may be made to the curriculum map, and this would be discussed in further detail at the next teacher Network meeting. It was hoped that they would be able to start working towards moderation in the borough – the teacher materials would be developed, and pupils work collated and shared with the SACRE to provide an understanding of the RE taking place in schools.

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