Agenda and minutes

Prior to the start of the main meeting James Dye, one of SACRE’s teacher members and two of his students gave an insight into the A level Philosophy, Ethics and Religion subject and answered Members’ questions.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Gill Heron, Rhiannon Love, Jo May, Paul Bristow, Maureen Barnes, Michael Zeffertt, Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo, Rev Howard Wright, and Chris Robinson.

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.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting on 7 March 2017.

The minutes of the previous meeting on 7 March 2017 were confirmed as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the amendment of the first name of the primary school representative from Karen to Kate.

To consider any matters arising from the Minutes of the meeting on 7 march 2017.

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the meeting on 7 March 2017.

To receive any Chairman’s announcements.

The Chairman welcomed everyone to SACRE, in particular Dr Farid Panjwani, one of the RE Commission members, Jon Hamer, who was seeking co-option by SACRE, and Beverley Wayman, an RE teacher from Calthorpe Park School.  Members were informed that Michael Zeffertt, the Jewish representative, was currently recovering from heart surgery.

The Chairman drew Member’s attention to two events that she hoped would be well attended by SACRE members.  There would be an Interfaith Seminar on 14 November in the Ashburton Hall in Winchester following on from the launch of the Interfaith Calendar. On 25 January, again in Winchester, in a joint venture by Winchester University and HIAS (Hampshire Inspection and Advisory Service),  Professor Bradstock of Winchester University would be leading a conference on Theology and Religion in Public Life, which would be looking at the CORAB (Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life) report two years on.

To receive any deputations.

There were no deputations.

To receive a report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services regarding the appointments to SACRE.

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

She highlighted that there were vacancies for Roman Catholic and Methodist representatives. Some Members offered to make enquiries regarding a Roman Catholic.

Members were asked to agree to the co-option of  Jon Hamer as a representative from a local authority secondary school, replacing Su Banwell who had stood down.

All Members were invited to attend a training session on the new  Agreed Syllabus on 19 September 2017; it was stressed that new Members should attend and it would be of value all Members.

RESOLVED:

·         That SACRE welcomes Members to SACRE and notes that there are vacancies for Roman Catholic and Methodist Members.

·         That SACRE agrees to co-opt Jon Hamer as a Local Authority Secondary School representative.

To receive a report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services regarding the activities and discussions of the monitoring group in relation to the monitoring of RE and the implementation of the new syllabus in Hampshire.

The Council received a report from Patricia Hannam, the County Inspector/Adviser on the discussions of the Monitoring Group at their meeting on 15 May 2017 (Item 8 in the Minute Book).

For the purpose of informing the RE Commissioner about the Monitoring Group, the Chairman of Group, Chris Hughes, gave an insight into the work of the Group in looking at GCSE results, Ofsted reports, teacher training and the value of the ten half day monitoring visits to schools by the advisers and members of SACRE.  Current visits are mainly concerned with the impact of the new Agreed Syllabus.

Members were informed that the advisers were working with the Church of England diocese to integrate their ‘Understanding Christianity’ school’s document with the Living Difference cycle of enquiry.

Patricia Hannam explained the difference with the new GCSEs, particularly the change from criteria to norm referencing, whereby  the meaning of the grade boundaries will not be known until after the papers are marked as only a certain percentage of students will be able to achieve the highest grades, regardless of the standard of the answers.  There was concern that themes and the application of religious beliefs has been reduced and the quantity of facts  to be learned increased. This was discussed with comments from the teacher representatives. 

It was noted that funds were being sought for a long term project looking at the philosophical approach used in Living Difference and its impact on GCSE results.

RESOLVED:

·         That SACRE noted the report

To receive a report from the Director of Children’s Services providing an update on national engagement, research and other matters, and to welcome Dr Farid Panjwani, one of the REC Commissioners, to give a short presentation on the Commission on RE and receive questions from SACRE.

The Council received a report from Patricia Hannam and Justine Ball, the County inspector/advisors on national and local RE matters and then received a short presentation from Dr Farid Panjwani, one of the RE Commission commissioners. (Item 9 in the minute book)

Patricia Hannam indicated that she had recently attended the NASACRE AGM on SACRE’s behalf, together with Elizabeth Jenkerson and Sushma Sahajpal who were both on the NASACRE executive.  She had also attended the Religious Education Council AGM through her role on the AREIAC Executive Council.  Both of these had been most informative days. SACRE members were encouraged to consider attending the NASACRE AGM next year, which will most likely be in London .

Members were informed that in a desire to keep the Hampshire Interfaith Calendar and Lecture going, they were to be managed by the RE advisers.  Twelve schools had submitted artwork which had been judged.  The calendar will be launched on 14 November 2017 and will be followed by an interfaith seminar.  SACRE members were encouraged to attend.  Please contact Pat Hannam  with expressions of interest, following which a formal invitation will be sent from the organisers

Justine Ball informed Members that the Hampshire Advice Document for schools had been finalised and would be distributed to schools shortly.  She thanked those Members who had contributed or commented on it. It is intended that this document will be amended, added to and extended as required.

Justine Ball provided Members with an overview of the initial findings of the annual withdrawal survey.  144 schools had responded, which was felt to be a good number (29%) representing 46,158 children in a range of educational establishments.  Of these 16 children had been withdrawn from all RE and 23 from part.  Reasons were that the teaching was in conflict with their own faith, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Plymouth Brethren, and a few withdrawing from Mosque visits.  This was slightly less than last year. 15 children had been withdrawn from all Collective Worship and 43 from part of it.  Reasons included going to a church service or nativity or some other special event.    It was noted that there was no ‘do you do collective worship?’ question on the survey.  The inspectors indicated that information from training courses suggested that primary schools do have collective worship, but would like to improve them, and that with secondary schools it is very variable.  Justine Ball agreed to look further at the breakdown between primary and secondary schools on both withdrawal and collective worship.  It was noted that Ofsted are not taking a hard line on secondary collective worship.

The Chairman invited Dr Farid Panjwani, one of the RE Commission commissioners to speak about the Commission and its discussions.  Dr Panjwani thanked SACRE for inviting to him and indicated that this was the first time he had attended a SACRE meeting.

Dr Panjwani indicated that the Commission was looking at what factors make RE work, or not, in schools, and noted that collective  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To receive a report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services on the activities of the South Central SACRE RE Hub since the meeting on 7 March 2017 and information about future plans.

The Council received a report from Patricia Hannam, the County Inspector/Adviser on the activities of the South Central SACRE Hub (Item 10 in the Minute Book). 

Patricia Hannam answered questions from the RE commissioner about the Hub, how it was conceived and operates.  It was explained that the members of the Hub itself had not met for over a year, due to the focus on the review of the Agreed Syllabus,  and it was intended restart the meetings in the autumn term.

The value of the reading and research group was highlighted; this was enabling teachers to review and extend subject knowledge that is being taught and was leading to changes, for example  in the study of Hinduism and the Holocaust.

RESOLVED:

·        That SACRE noted the report.

To receive a  report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services on the activities of SACRE Youth Voice since the SACRE meeting on 7 March 2017.

The Council received a report from Patricia Hannam, the County Inspector/Adviser on the activities of the Youth Voice since the last SACRE meeting on 7 March 2017  (Item 11 in the Minute Book).

Members were informed of the first mini conference for primary schools organised by Youth Voice students held on 13 June 2017 at Cove School. Two feeder primary schools had attended with children from years 5 and 6.  The Youth Voice students had planned and organised the conference  on the theme of ‘Authority’. It was very successful and it is planned to hold further ones next year involving more schools.

The third Youth Voice conference for secondary schools was due to be held on 13 July and would consider the issue of religion and the media.  The students felt strongly that RE was fundamental to counter the misinterpretation of religion by the media.  Members were asked to contact Patricia Hannam if they would be interested in being involved in the Conference.

It was noted that there are still gaps in Youth Voice and schools in the New Forest and Andover areas  were being sought to join the meetings.

RESOLVED:

·         That SACRE noted the report

To receive any other business from Members of SACRE.

The Chairman thanked James Dye and Queen Mary’s College for hosting the meeting. She informed Members that the presentation at the next meeting in November would be by Lisa-Marie Taylor, one of the Buddhist representatives and asked for a volunteer to give the presentation in March.

The next meeting is scheduled for 28 November 2017 at 2.00pm in the Ashburton Hall, preceded at 1.30pm by a short presentation by Lisa-Marie Taylor, one of SACRE’s Buddhist representatives

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Tuesday 28 November  2017 at 2.00 pm in the Ashburton Hall, preceded at 1.30pm by a short presentation.