Agenda and minutes

A reflection was given by Beth Feltham

K Thomas and S Rogers sent their apologies.

To invite Members to declare any interest they might have in the matters on the agenda.

None were received

1.    1.To confirm as a true record the minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2022.

2.    To discuss any actions from the minutes

RESOLVED:

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2022 be approved.

THAT the action point resulting from the minutes, regarding whether the resources available on the MOODLE were free to all, was confirmed as being accurate.

THAT the action point about the syllabus being available in larger text was discussed and options for this considered.

To receive a verbal update on future membership.

Members were informed that Ben Britten, Mike Hackleton, Alex Augusta and Liane Chalmers had stood down from the SACRE. The Chairman thanked them for all their contributions and respective work for the SACRE.

New members were introduced to the committee - Rebecca Lennon was welcomed to join Committee C as Headteacher Member, Janice Willcott and Sue Rogers were welcomed to join Committee B as Church of England Members. These were to go to full Council for approval.

The Chairman also commented on how wonderful it was to see the meeting so well attended.

The Chairman explained the process of electing a Vice Chairman, according to the SACRE constitution, and highlighted the fact that the Vice Chairman normally assumed the position of Chairman after 2 years. It was asked if any members from Committee A were interested in standing as Vice Chairman and if so, could they inform the Professional Adviser.

To receive a draft Annual Report and to approve this.

Members were asked to go into their respective committee groups to discuss the draft annual report for approval and comment.

RESOLVED:

THAT the draft annual report be approved with any comments arising from the individual committees be given consideration for inclusion.

Members were asked to go into their respective committee groups to use the NASACRE Self-Assessment Tool as a method of evaluating and assessing how the Isle of Wight SACRE was performing. It was asked that the Committee members email the Clerk and the Professional Adviser with any comments regarding their findings through the self-evaluation tool.

RESOLVED:

THAT any comments resulting from the individual committee discussions be emailed to the clerk and the Professional Adviser for consideration.

To receive a verbal update on the activities of the monitoring group.

It was explained to members that there was a small group, who meet as a monitoring group, to look at the monitoring duties of the SACRE in further detail. If any other members were interested in joining the monitoring group, they were asked to get in touch with the Professional Adviser.

The monitoring group discussed the need to have a focus on collective worship, as well as RE instruction, on school visits, and this would be put into place for the visits taking place in the Spring term.

The Professional Adviser to the SACRE stated that 2 school visits were planned before the March 2023 meeting of SACRE. Ideally, it was hoped that one of the school visits would be to a special needs school.

The subject of Ofsted reports on the teaching of RE in schools was discussed and it was commented upon that there was little focus on RE in Ofsted reports, but what had been able to be viewed was very positive.

It was mentioned that the RE Network for primary had started again with the secondary network coming onboard after half term.

Discussion then took place about communication with schools and how the SACRE could support schools.

RESOLVED:

THAT there was to be a greater focus on collective worship as well as the teaching of RE during the monitoring visits.

THAT attention be given to how SACRE could best communicate with schools.

THAT attention be given to making sure information sent to the schools from SACRE was getting to the key people in the school involved with the teaching of RE.

To receive a verbal update.

It was stated that the SACRE constitution was last reviewed 5 years previously and it was time to review it again.

It was explained that a meeting with the IW Council Monitoring Officer, the IW Council Scrutiny Officers and the Professional Advisor to the SACRE was planned for November 2022, with the purpose of reviewing the SACRE constitution.

The smaller group, which had been established at the last meeting of the SACRE in June to review the Constitution, would meet after the November meeting to discuss points raised and formulate an updated draft constitution. This would then come back to the committee to vote on, in the SACRE March 2023 meeting.

RESOLVED:

THAT the Professional Advisor and Chairman report back to the SACRE constitution review group after the meeting with the Monitoring Officer, and that they would discuss and formulate any proposed changes. These would then be included in a draft update of the Constitution, which would be presented to all members at the March meeting.

It was highlighted that it was a year on from when Living Difference IV was first introduced. It was now well established and known by schools, many of whom were now going ahead in adopting Living Difference IV.

The benefits of the ‘Golden Threads’, which weave through the whole RE curriculum from primary to secondary, were now being seen and were becoming invaluable, particularly in the transition from primary to secondary.

The ideas of faith groups were discussed with the emphasis that faith groups were not homogeneous in the interpretation of a particular faith and that many individuals within a particular faith group, interpreted and practised their faith in different ways.

It was mentioned that religious hate crime had increase by 37% in the past year.

The up-and-coming Interfaith week 13 Nov-17 Nov at Brighstone Primary was discussed, and members were encouraged to get in touch with Brighstone Primary should they wish to attend.

RESOLVED:

THAT the progress of Living Difference be noted.

THAT the Interfaith week be publicized amongst SACRE members.

The future timing of SACRE meetings was discussed, but it was decided that 4pm was the most convenient time.

RESOLVED:

THAT the meeting time remained the same, but that this can be reviewed.

It was highlighted to members that, should meetings be held virtually or in a hybrid format, members attending on-line could not vote on any issues.

The idea of holding one meeting a year virtually was floated though this needed to be checked with the Monitoring Officer in the November meeting.

RESOLVED:

THAT the Professional Advisor report back on this issue after her meeting with the Monitoring Officer in November 2022.

The monitoring visits and the review of the constitution were highlighted as the major part of the work programme.

The next meeting to be held on 20 March 20223 at 4pm - the venue to be determined at a later date.