Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman announced that the press and members of the public were permitted to film and broadcast the meeting.  Those remaining at the meeting were consenting to being filmed and recorded, and to the possible use of those images and recording for broadcasting purposes.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Colin How, Margaret Boyne, Gill Heron, Rhiannon Love, Danny Sullivan, Darren Clarke, Richard Moss 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 15 November 2016.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2016 were confirmed as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman

To consider any matters arising from the Minutes of the meeting on 15 November 2016.

Item 57 – the previous meeting  had suggested  the convening of a group to discuss safeguarding issues, but it was felt that it would be better to pass on the details of the Safeguarding Team for Members to make their own contact.

To receive any Chairman’s announcements.

The Chairman expressed her gratitude to Sushma Sahajpal, SACRE’s Hindu representative, for her presentation prior to the start of the main meeting. She had given a brief background, history, and insight into the principles and practices of Hinduism and spoke about ‘living the tradition’. 

The Chairman also thanked Sushma Sahajpal for attending the South-West SACRE conference on 6 March on behalf of SACRE and invited her to give a brief outline of the day. Sushma indicated that it had been a worthwhile conference.  The keynote speech had been given by Joyce Miller from the RE Commission who had spoken about the huge volume of evidence that had been submitted and the complexity of the task ahead of them. She had attended workshops primarily concerned with resources for schools.

Members were informed that one place was still available for the NASACRE AGM on 16 May in York and expressions of interest in attending were sought.

The Chairman informed Members that following the County Council elections in May 2017, all members of SACRE would need to be ratified by the County Council at its AGM at the end of May.  Members and their appointing bodies would receive a letter in the near future asking them to confirm who would be representing them in the new administration.

Members were invited to offer to make the pre-meeting presentation at future meetings.  A secondary school venue for the June 2017 meeting was being sought and suggestions were invited.

To receive any deputations.

There were no deputations.

To receive a verbal report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services on the launch of Living Difference III on 8 December 2016 in the Ashburton Hall, Winchester.

The Council received a verbal report from Patricia Hannam, the County Inspector/Adviser, on the launch of Living Difference III on 8 December 2016 (item 7 in the Minute Book).

The Council received a verbal report from Patricia Hannam, the County Inspector/Adviser, on the launch of Living Difference III on 8 December 2016 (item 7 in the Minute Book).

Thanks were given to all SACRE Members who had attended what had been a very successful launch of the new Agreed Syllabus.  The intention of the launch had been to draw attention to the new Hampshire Agreed Syllabus which had been done with three key speakers,  Paul Smalley the Chair of NASACRE,  Ed Pawson from NATRE (National Association of Teachers of Religious Education) and Professor Andrew Bradstock from the University of Winchester.  Cllr Edgar, the Executive Member for Education and Brian Pope, the Deputy Director of Children’s Services had also spoken. 

To receive the report of the Director of Children’s Services on the  activities and discussions of the monitoring group in relation to the monitoring of RE across Hampshire.

The Council received the report of the Monitoring Group on its discussions at their meeting on 23 January 2017 (Item 8 in the Minute Book).

SACRE officer, Patricia Hannam, explained that many training sessions had been held to implement the new Agreed Syllabus.  Over the next year monitoring visits would focus on how the new syllabus was being embedded into primary and secondary schools, supporting good practice as well as raising attainment at KS4.  .  Ways of monitoring the effectiveness of Living Difference III and markers of its success were still to be decided.  

Members were asked to consider taking part in a monitoring visit, and a and particular request was made to any member with special school experience to make contact with Justine Ball. 

It was noted that the SACRE officers, together with Richard Wharton and Sue Bowen, two of the Church of England representatives, were looking at how the resource ‘‘Understanding Christianity’ could be used more systematically with Living Difference III.

Members were informed that more data on the teaching of RS/RE in schools was required and welcomed ideas for obtaining this information from schools.

RESOLVED:

That SACRE noted the report

To receive a verbal report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services on the activities of the REC Commission on RE  and other significant national RE Matters and to consider the implications for Hampshire.

The Council received a verbal report from Patricia Hannam, the County Inspector/Adviser (item 9 in the Minute Book).

Members were informed that following the last meeting, SACRE’s letter had been sent to the RE Commission and this had been well-received. A further on-line submission had been made on SACRE’s behalf.  It was hoped that Members had also made their own on-line submissions.  The Commission is expected to give an interim report in September 2017.

Patricia Hannam explained that she had given evidence to the first oral hearing of the Commission in London in January. She had stressed three things which she felt the Commission should consider. First to reflect on what is educative about RE, secondly to consider how religion was conceptualised in RE emphasising that it should not be conceptualised as beliefs and practices alone. Thirdly if RE in Britain is considered to be amongst the best in Europe, the structures and processes in place that have made it so must be carefully examined. Local SACREs are usually instrumental in ensuring good RE. She recommended that analysis should be made as to whether there was a relationship between the effectiveness of a SACRE and the amount of local authority commitment to RE.

It was indicated that the Commissioners are interested in visiting schools and SACRES and Members agreed that Hampshire should invite them to a future meeting.

RESOLVED:

·         That SACRE noted the report.

·         That SACRE would invite a member of the RE Commission to observe a future Hampshire SACRE meeting

To receive a report from the Director of Children’s Services on developments in relation to RE and the wider curriculum in Hampshire schools and engagement with parents in Hampshire schools, including withdrawal from RE.

The Council received a report from Justine Ball, the County Primary Inspector/Adviser, about the work being undertaken in relation to religious education and the wider school curriculum, including engagement with parents (item 10 in the Minute Book).

Members were informed that a small group had met twice to discuss the Hampshire Advice Document.  The document is ready to send to faith group representatives for their comments.  The key element that had emerged was that every case is individual. It was hoped that the document would be brought to the June SACRE meeting for approval.

With regard to parental engagement in RE, it was noted that examples of good practice across Hampshire were being collated.  In discussion Members suggested that all schools should have the RE syllabus on their website.  It was agreed that the Chairman, on behalf of SACRE, would write to schools encouraging them to communicate the RE curriculum clearly to all parents/carers.

It was noted that the annual survey on withdrawal from RE would be distributed to schools shortly.  In discussion it was suggested that SACRE Youth Voice and SACRE itself could work on a joint publication, to go to all schools, about the value of RE. It was reiterated that all schools should have their RE curriculum clearly available on the school’s website and that, at least, there should be a link to Living Difference III. It was recognised that communication with parents about the value of RE is important. SACRE supported the officers in all their work in this regard.

RESOLVED:

·   That the Hampshire Advice Document is drafted and sent to SACRE members for consultation and then distributed to schools

·   That the Chair of SACRE should write to all Hampshire Schools recommending that schools communicate the RE curriculum clearly to all parents/carers.

·   That SACRE noted the other elements of the report

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 15 November 2016.

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 15 November 2016 (Item 11 in the Minute Book).

Members were informed that some of the more experienced members of Youth Voice were now chairing the meetings.  The Youth Voice meeting on 1 March had discussed the role of media in religion and begun to plan the Youth Voice conference.  This would be held on Thursday 13 July at Wildern School.  The theme would be ‘What is the biggest influence on how we think about religion?’  Four workshops were planned looking at the influence of friends and school, the passing on of family traditions, the effect of modern media, and the promotion of negative views of religion.  SACRE members were asked to consider taking part in the day. 

Asked why more schools were not involved (only 5 currently), it was noted that it was difficult for teachers to get the time to bring the children. A suggestion that the use of Councillors to act as ‘taxi drivers’ might encourage more to attend was agreed to be considered after the forthcoming elections.

The Chairman, on behalf of SACRE, expressed her thanks to the teachers who bring the young people to Youth Voice and to the schools for enabling this.

RESOLVED:

·         That SACRE noted the report

To receive a verbal report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services on the activities 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 Hub (Item 12 in the Minute Book). 

It was explained that the Hub group, had not met during the review of the agreed syllabus, which had taken priority in 2016.  It was proposed that the SACREs who were members of the hub would be contacted to enquire what they considered the significant issues that the Hub should be concentrating on in the future and formulate an agenda.  A series of dates would be arranged for 2017/18 academic year.

However, the achievements of the three primary aims and purposes of the Hub had progressed and were highlighted in the meeting.  (i) The number of primary networks for teachers had risen from two to seven. (ii) Regarding the development of opportunities for increasing subject knowledge, Winchester University had run joint sessions with the SACRE officer for secondary teachers on Hinduism and Islam.  A teacher visit to the Shia Mosque in Wickham had been arranged for July and a further visit to the Buddhist Temple in Aldershot and Winchester Cathedral were in hand.  The Primary RE Conference had also been actively involved in boosting teacher subject knowledge. (iii) The Reading and Research Group was continuing to be successful, meeting twice each term, and a number of teachers were now engaged in master’s research partly funded by Culham St Gabriels’ Trust  Three4RE programme and in addition there were RE teachers engaged with the EdD programme at Winchester University who attended the Reading and Research Group.

RESOLVED:

·   That SACRE noted the report.

To receive any other business from Members of SACRE.

The Chairman gave her thanks to Patricia Hannam, Justine Ball and Sue Butler for their help and guidance over the last four years and to all the Members of SACRE for their support.

Councillor Mather, on behalf of SACRE, thanked Councillor Chadd for being a good chair, totally committed to the work.

Following up an email Members had received concerning an advice document published by the Muslim Council of Southampton, the Inspector/Advisor indicated that it would not be recommended  to schools as SACRE was preparing its own advice document that would relate specifically to Hampshire and to all faiths. 

Members asked how the new Progress 8 accountability measures (an indicator which will show how a school is performing in terms of seeing students' progress in eight core subjects from primary school to secondary) would impact on the take-up of GCSE RE and also how this might tie win with budget constraints on specialist teachers, particularly RE.  It was noted that the numbers of students studying Short Course RE had declined greatly since these new measures, as Short Course was not included in the subjects that were counted.  It was agreed that this should be a subject for further investigation.

The next meeting is scheduled for 19 June 2017 at 2.00pm at a venue to be decided.

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Monday 19 June 2017 at 2.00 pm, but the venue was still to be settled.