Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Rev Jeff Williams, Amanda Cawood, Rhian Jones, Julie Kelly and Charmian Harrison.

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 5 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.

Justine Ball declared that she works one day a month for NATRE as an RE ambassador for the South East.

Elizabeth Jenkerson noted that she was a judge for the Westhill Awards which gives grants to SACREs.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting on 3 March 2020.

The minutes of the previous meeting on 3 March 2020 were agreed as an accurate record.

It was noted on Item 115 that Professor Trevor Cooling had not been part of the RE Commission as stated.

Justine Ball updated Members on the publication of the updated Hampshire SACRE Advice Document for Schools saying that this had been delayed due to Covid-19 but would be going out this term.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

There were no deputations.

To receive any Chairman’s announcements.

The Chairman thanked everyone for attending the first virtual meeting of SACRE.

He gave thanks to all the staff and teachers for their dedication throughout a difficult year which did not seem to be getting any easier. He felt that young people must be stressed and have worries and that RE teachers in particular had a concern and special responsibility to help children in these troubled times.

He informed members that there would be a pause in the broadcast at item 10 to allow for group discussions.

In the latest lockdown rules the Chairman mentioned that he had noted that places of worship would still be open for private prayer.

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

SACRE received a verbal report from Patricia Hannam, the County Inspector/Advisor informing members of changes to membership (item 6 in the Minute Book).

It was noted that Dr Julie Maxwell, the co-opted governor representative had resigned.  A new appointment would be sought from governor services. 

There were also still vacancies for Roman Catholic and Sikh representatives.

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, the implementation of Living Difference III and an update on the progress of the revision.

SACRE received a report from Patricia Hannam, County Inspector/Adviser, on the discussions of the Monitoring Group (item 7 in the Minute Book).

The County Inspector/Advisor spoke briefly about the report stressing that the group played an important part in SACRE’s business monitoring the effectiveness of the Agreed Syllabus and the general well-being of RE around the county. The group had met virtually during lockdown, in May and September 2020 to keep up the work.

RESOLVED:

That SACRE thanked the Monitoring Group for its report.

To receive a report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services updating and informing SACRE of key national developments – the work of the Religious Education Council and NASACRE, notional RE Research and local RE matters.

SACRE considered a report from Patricia Hannam, the County Inspector/Advisor, on key national and local RE matters (item 8 in the Minute Book).

The County Inspector/Adviser drew Members’ attention to the work of the RE Council in following up the recommendations of the Commission on RE.  Both herself and Justine Ball were involved with projects on the proposed change of subject name to ‘Religion and worldviews’ and Local Advisory Networks.  There had been much debate and discussion nationally about the meaning of ‘worldviews’ and it was noted that this would need to be considered during the current review of the Agreed Syllabus.  Both advisers were taking part in research for a case study of what an effective SACRE looks like for the work on Local Advisory Networks.

It was noted that Justine Ball, the general primary adviser, was now the Co-Chairman of AREIAC (Association of RE Inspectors, Advisers and Consultants).  Patricia Hannam had stepped down from the AREIAC Executive, but has been retained as their research representative. It was also noted that Patricia Hannam had been elected to the REC (Religious Education Council) Board in May 2020.

Members were asked to inform the clerk if they wished to attend the virtual meeting of the NASACRE EGM that was scheduled to be held on 17 November 2020; this would replace the NASACRE AGM which had been postponed from May 2020.

Members were also encouraged to read NASACRE’s termly newsletter which is sent out to all Members as it has some interesting and informative articles and background information.

RESOLVED:

That SACRE noted the report

To consider a report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services presenting the SACRE Annual Report 2019/2020 which informs SACRE of its activities over the past year and updating SACRE’s 3 Year Action Plan.

SACRE considered a report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services presenting the SACRE Annual report 2019/20 and an update to the 3 Year Action Plan. (Item 9 in the Minute Book)

Patricia Hannam explained the need for the Annual Report then went through each section before asking for questions and comments.  Members mentioned some errors in numbering, general typographical mistakes and made a request for clarity in one section which would be amended before publication. Responding to questions concerning Collective Worship and academy schools, Patricia Hannam confirmed that Ofsted reports on all Hampshire schools were looked at by the Monitoring Group, although Collective Worship was rarely mentioned; and SACRES’s annual survey on withdrawal also went to all schools.

It was noted that SACRE’s 3 Year Action Plan was coming to an end and it was suggested and agreed that the Monitoring Group would develop a new Action Plan for 2021 -2023.  The draft would be brought for consideration to the next SACRE meeting in March 2021.

SACRE members thanked Patricia Hannam for producing the report which they thought was good, interesting and encouraging for RE.

RESOLVED:

That SACRE approved the report, subject to the agreed changes, and that it should be made available to the relevant parties and on the appropriate websites.

That SACRE requested that the Monitoring Group develops the next 3 Year Action Plan for 2021-2023 and brings a draft for SACRE’s consideration to the next SACRE meeting in March 2021.

To consider a report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services seeking SACRE’s approval of the proposed determination procedure for Hampshire SACRE.

SACRE considered a report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services which sought SACRE’s approval of the proposed Determination procedure. (Item 10 in the Minute Book)

Members were reminded that the SACRE meetings in November 2019 and March 2020 had discussed the question of a Determination procedure and had approved in principle the proposed procedure, subject to following up on SACRE’s request for the formulation of ‘indicative criteria’. 

Justine Ball, the General Adviser, had undertaken research on Determination procedures and indicative criteria from 18 SACRE’s nationwide, ranging from Yorkshire to London. She had discovered that all but one had a procedure in place, some very short and others more detailed, but that none of them had separate indicative criteria.  Also, most had received no or very few requests for a Determination.  An article requesting further information from other SACREs had been put in the NASACRE bulletin and advice from an experienced adviser on Collective Worship had been sought.

Legal advice had been sought again and they had advised that ‘indicative criteria’ do not exist in the law and that the legal wording is deliberately vague to cover the many situations that exist in England and Wales. 

The small group which had initially met to discuss this had been reconvened to look at the research.  They had felt that each Determination would need to be looked at on a case by case basis as ‘indicative criteria’ would not be applicable.

Members were given the opportunity to make comments and ask questions before dividing into their respective groups for further discussion and to vote.

A suggestion was made and agreed that the four pieces of evidence requested from a school on page 2 of the Determination document should be the same as the four pieces of evidence requested on the application form.

Following the group discussions all four groups voted to accept the proposed procedure unanimously.

RESOLVED:

That SACRE agreed to adopt the procedure for Determinations and publish it on the Hampshire County Council website.

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 3 March 2020.

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 3 March 2020 (item 11 in the Minute Book).

Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 lockdown there had been no Youth Voice conference in July.  However, there are plans to try and hold a virtual meeting, which would require all the children in one room with a teacher present.  The County Inspector stressed that it was important for us to hear the young people’s opinions on the Agreed Syllabus as it is reviewed and for them to be able to discuss whether they are finding RE supporting them in these difficult times.  One teacher member involved with Youth Voice told the Council that the availability of large enough room and social distancing was a problem.  It was intended to keep trying to arrange a meeting.

Neither of the primary conferences took place in the summer, but it is hoped to go ahead with next summer’s planned ones.

To receive a verbal report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services on some issues arising from the discussions of the South Central SACRE RE Hub.

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).

Having given a brief history of the Hub for the benefit of newer Members of SACRE it was noted that the next meeting of the Hub was scheduled for 16 November at 10.00am.  A meeting had been held during lockdown with good attendance.  The meeting discussed Collective Worship, SACRE monitoring and projects that members were working on.  Members were encouraged to join the meeting if they wished.

To receive any other business from Members of SACRE.

No other business was raised.

The next meeting is scheduled for 2 March 2021.  It may be a virtual meeting via Teams but this will be confirmed nearer the time.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 2 March 2021 at 2.00pm. The venue would be decided at a later date and may be a virtual one.