Agenda and minutes

Prior to the start of the main meeting Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo and two colleagues from the Al Mahdi Centre,  Mr Mahmood Hooda and Mrs Nazznin Hooda, gave Members a guided tour of the Centre, giving a very informative explanation of  its history, design and use.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Anna McNair Scott and David Simpson, Rhiannon Love, Alasdair Richardson, Jeff Williams, Lisa-Marie Taylor, Jo May, Caroline Welch, Sushma Sahajpal, and Pam Brown.

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members’ Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code.  Furthermore all Members with a Personal Interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider, having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 4 of the Code, whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Personal interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 4 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

Elizabeth Jenkerson noted that she was a judge for the Westhill Awards.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting on 6 March 2018.

The minutes of the previous meeting on 6 March 2018 were agreed as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider any matters arising from the Minutes of the meeting on 6 March 2018.

There were no matters arising.

To receive any Chairman’s announcements.

The Chairman began by thanking Sheikh Fazal for inviting us to the Al Mahdi Centre and to Mr Mahmood Hooda and Mrs Nazznin Hooda from the community  who had helped facilitate the meeting.  She thanked them for making SACRE feel very welcome;  the pre-meeting tour had been very informative and the community was obviously very proud of their Centre.

She welcomed Danny Habel and Rhian Jones to their first SACRE meeting, also Rob Sanders who was standing in for Jeff Williams  and Beverley Wayman, a teacher colleague of Patricia Timms Blanch. 

The Chairman informed Members that James Dye, one of the Teachers’ representatives was leaving Hampshire; she wished him well and thanked him for being such an active Member of SACRE.

The speaker prior to the November meeting would be Chris Anders, head teacher of Park Community School who would talk about the challenges faced by heads in balancing secondary curriculum demands, particularly with regard to RE . Members were asked to put themselves forward as a speaker for the  March 2019 meeting.

To receive any deputations.

There were no deputations.

To inform SACRE of changes to membership of the Council.

SACRE received a report from Patricia Hannam, the County Inspector/Advisor, on the membership of SACRE (item 7 in the Minute Book).

Members were made aware of  three new appointments to SACRE.

It was noted that a replacement for James Dye, one of the Teacher’s Liaison Panel Members, was being sought.  James was acknowledged as an important SACRE Member representing Sixth Form teachers and had played a valuable role networking with similar teachers.

A training session on Monday 17 September at the RE Centre from 9.30am to 12.00pm was highlighted to Members.  It was stressed that all Members are expected to attend one of these sessions and they were open to all Members as a refresher.

RESOLVED:

That SACRE notes the report.

To receive a report on behalf of the SACRE Monitoring Group on its activities and discussions in relation to the implementation of Living Difference III and the monitoring of RE across Hampshire.

SACRE received a report from Patricia Hannam, the County Inspector/Adviser on the discussion and findings of the Monitoring Group at their meeting on 14 May 2018 (item 8 in the Minute Book).

Items from the report that were highlighted included the increase in numbers for the Secondary PGCE course at Winchester University and the continued assistance by the primary adviser to the Diocese with regard to Living Difference II and the Understanding Christianity  resource. 

The collaboration between HIAS and Brunel University would be continuing with a further research project on the different meanings of ‘Religious literacy’.  It was indicated that the dates mentioned in the report had been put back, the academic ‘summit’ would be in January 2019 and the meeting with Hampshire teachers in February.

The Monitoring Group had discussed and agreed the need for schools to have their religious education curriculum clearly visible on their websites and for them to have a specified governor for religious education and requested SACRE to recommend that letters concerning these issues be sent to the relevant people for action.

In answer to a question regarding the nature of the Monitoring Group, it was explained that the Monitoring Group was an important part of SACRE’s work but was not a decision-making body.  It was agreed that the membership of this group should be opened up and Members wishing to become part of it were asked to contact the Secondary Inspector/Advisor.

RESOLVED:

1.    That SACRE notes the report.

2.    That the Chairman of SACRE should write to the Executive Member for Education and the Director of Children’s Services recommending that schools have a link governor for religious education.

3.    That the Chairman of SACRE should write to head teachers reminding them of the need for schools to have clear information on their websites about their religious education curriculum, as well as how children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is promoted.

To receive a report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services seeking   confirmation by SACRE of the 3 Year Action Plan.

The Inspector/Adviser presented the draft Three Year Action Plan 2018-2020 which had been redeveloped by the Monitoring Group following SACRE’s meeting in March 2018. (Item 9 in the Minute Book).

 Each section of the Action Plan was discussed and minor amendments were agreed. 

Teacher Members suggested that, to maximise the possibility of completion, the annual survey on withdrawal should be sent to the head of department rather than the head teacher and that the start of the autumn term would be the best time to send it.

RESOLVED:

That SACRE accepted the 3 Year Action Plan, subject to the agreed amendments, and for it to be reviewed annually.

To receive a report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services informing Members of the local and national RE picture, including an update on the RE Commission.

SACRE received a report from Patricia Hannam, the Inspector/Adviser for Religious Education, on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services bringing Members up-to-date with relevant local and national issues (Item 10 in the Minute Book).

Two Members had attended the NASACRE AGM on 25 May, but were not present to give feedback. Elizabeth Jenkerson, who had attended as a member of NASACRE, told members that she felt the best received part of the conference was the sharing of experiences and reports of what was happening in other SACREs.

There was considerable discussion concerning the new GCSE Religious Studies course which had been introduced for the 2018 examinations.

Patrizia Timms Blanch, one of the Teachers’ representatives spoke about her personal experience and concerns about the new RE syllabus within her own school.  Other teachers also made comments, suggesting that there is a very mixed picture over the County . The Inspector/Adviser stated that the new GCSE was a national concern and suggested that a time-limited group should be convened to look more closely at the impact of the new course on the provision  of Religious Education in Hampshire secondary schools; a twilight meeting would be necessary to ensure teachers were able to attend.  The importance of SACRE continuing to monitor that core RE was being provided for all children, not just those taking GCSE, was stressed, as it is a legal requirement.  Teachers and inspectors agreed that they were waiting to see what the results were like.

Members were informed that the Commission on RE would publish its final report in September 2018 and that it would be discussed at the November SACRE meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.    That SACRE would convene a time-limited group to explore the impact of the new Religious Studies GCSE on the provision of Religious Education in Hampshire Secondary Schools, and report its preliminary findings to the SACRE meeting in November.

2.    That SACRE requested the Advisers to bring a full report of the Commission on RE Report to the November SACRE meeting for consideration.

To receive a verbal report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services on the activities of SACRE Youth Voice since the SACRE meeting on 6 March 2018.

The Council received a verbal report from Patricia Hannam, the County Inspector/Adviser on the activities of the Youth Voice since the last SACRE meeting on 6 March 2018 (Item 11 in the Minute Book).

Youth Voice had last met on 16 May with a focus on planning for the forthcoming  Youth Voice Conference on 9 July in Winchester.  The theme, decided by the students, would be ‘Religion: Provider of Peace or Causer of Conflict?’  There would be about 70 students attending.  Members were encouraged to offer to take part.

A second Primary Youth Voice had been hosted by Cove School  on 14 June 2018  with the theme of Communitywhich was attended by 28 students from five schools in the local area.

To receive a verbal report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services on the activities of the South Central SACRE RE Hub, especially the Reading and Research Group.

The Council received a verbal report from Patricia Hannam, the County Inspector/Adviser on the activities of the South Central SACRE Hub (Item 12 in the Minute Book). 

The last meeting of the Hub had been on 12 June 2018 which was attended by representatives from six SACREs.  Discussion had centred around minutes of SACRE meetings to find common issues that were being tackled.  The next meeting on 19 November would focus on SACRE Action Plans.

To receive any other items of business from Members of SACRE.

The Vice-Chairman suggested that SACRE should invite the Secretary of State for Education, Damien Hinds, to attend a SACRE meeting.  This would be appropriate as he is the MP for East Hampshire.  SACRE Members agreed with the proposal, but it was stressed that his visit should be an instructive and informative one, about the importance of the work of SACREs.

RESOLVED:

That the Chairman of SACRE would take advice from the Leader and Director of Children’s Services with regard to inviting the Secretary of State and then contact him.

The Chairman ended the meeting by reiterating her thanks to Sheikh Fazle and the members of the Al Mahdi Centre for hosting the meeting.

The next meeting is scheduled for 6 November 2018 in the Ashburton Hall, Winchester.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Tuesday 6 November 2018 at 2.00 pm in the Ashburton Hall, Hampshire County Council, Winchester, with a pre-meeting talk at 1.30pm.