Agenda and 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.

Prior to the start of the main meeting Lisa-Marie Taylor, one of SACRE’s Buddhist representatives, gave a presentation providing an overview of Buddhist traditions, comparing Zen, Thervarden and Tibetan practices. She answered Members’ questions.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Anna  McNair Scott and David Simpson, Jeff Williams, Patrizia Timms-Blanch, Darren Clark, Heather Thorpe-Tracey, Jo May, Amanda Cawood, Sushma Sahajpal, Pam Brown, Yasmeen Hussain, and Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo.

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 meeting on 19 June 2017.

The minutes of the previous meeting on 19 June 2017 were agreed as an accurate record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider any matters arising from the Minutes of the meeting on 19 June 2017.

Updates were given about a number of matters arising from the minutes of the last meeting.

Item 7 (page 7) – the training session on 19 September had been well attended and had included members on the religious visitor speakers’ list.

Item 9 (page 8) – a correction was made;  that the Interfaith Calendar was managed by the advisers, but the Interfaith lecture was organised by the Southern Interfaith Network.  The Chairman informed Members that she had presented the prizes at the launch of the Calendar with Councillor Joy and was keen to continue the calendar. 

Item 9 (page 8) – Members were told that the Hampshire Advice Document had been sent to schools and placed on the curriculum website and the RE Moodle; it had received a good response.

To receive any Chairman’s announcements.

The Chairman welcomed all those Members who were attending their first meeting of SACRE, Noel Thorpe-Tracey who was standing in for Heather and Dan Shiner, a PGCE student who had accompanied James Dye.

The Chairman informed Members that she had attended a hub meeting of SACRE chairs from the South East region on 9 October where they had discussed the interim report of the Commission for RE and good practice in RE.  It had been a well attended meeting and she had come away feeling proud to be part of Hampshire SACRE as it was already doing things some of the other SACREs were just thinking of.

Members were encouraged to put their names forward for a place at the South West SACRE Conference on 5 March 2018 and the NASACRE AGM on 24 May 2018.  It was indicated that she, Patricia Hannam and Justine Ball would be running a workshop at the March conference.

The Chairman asked for a volunteer for the pre-meeting presentation for the meeting on 6 March 2017. 

Prior to the meeting on 6 March, at 12.00pm, there would be another information and training session for all members who had yet to attend one of these sessions and anyone who wanted a refresher.  As this would include a light lunch, those who intended to come were asked to contact the clerk.

To receive any deputations.

There were no deputations.

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

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

Members were informed that in addition to the new Muslim representative, Yasmeen Hussain, there were two further new Members, Susannah Burns who had replaced Paul Bristow as one of the Teachers’ Association representatives and Rhian Jones, a new representative from the Salvation Army.  The recommendation to SACRE was amended to reflect these additions to the report.

RESOLVED:

·         That SACRE recommended Yasmeen Hussain, Susannah Burns and Rhian Jones were confirmed as members of SACRE.

·         That the officer supporting SACRE extended an invitation to the next SACRE training and offered to link them with an experienced member of SACRE as mentor for the first year of service on SACRE.

To receive a report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services informing SACRE of the discussions and findings of the SACRE monitoring group meeting on 16 October 2017.

The Council received a report from Patricia Hannam, the County Inspector/Adviser on the discussions and findings of the Monitoring Group at their meeting on 16 October 2017 (Item 8 in the Minute Book).

The County Inspector/Adviser began by explaining the purpose of the monitoring group for new members.  It was indicated that the main focus of monitoring  visits over the next year would be on the implementation and effectiveness of the new Agreed Syllabus. It was also noted that reports from SACRE monitoring visits were private reports and not publicly available. 

Members were invited to ask questions on the report.

RESOLVED:

·         That SACRE thanked the monitoring group for their report

·         That the Chair of SACRE would write to senior HIAS colleagues and to the Commission on RE, to follow up specific concerns raised by the monitoring group regarding the inspection of RE and also appropriately mentioned in OFSTED reports.

To consider on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services the Interim Report of the Commission on RE.

The Council considered and discussed the Interim Report from The Commission on RE. (Item 9 in the Minute Book).  An abridged version of the consultation questionnaire was provided to Members to aid discussion.

The County Inspector/Adviser began by reminding the Council that the Commission was a high profile independent commission with a remit to make recommendations to the government which would be designed to improve the quality and rigour of RE and its capacity to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain. She hoped that Members had had the opportunity to have read the Executive Summary to the Report prior to the meeting.  It was indicated that the Chairman would be sending a response on behalf of SACRE based on the meeting’s presentation and subsequent discussions. 

The Inspector/Adviser took each of the five key areas that were being consulted on in turn – a national entitlement for RE, strengthening schools’ accountability for RE, a renewed and expanded role for SACREs, the right to withdraw and a National Plan for RE.

Members were reminded that RE had been locally determined since the 1970.  Local determination gave the opportunity for a syllabus to be developed based on a region’s individual demography. Some Members thought it would be difficult to get a national agreement on what should be included in this national entitlement. There would also be the question of how it would it be monitored.  It was suggested that it would be better to have a mechanism for recognising existing high quality agreed syllabi.  A national entitlement for RE would possibly be unnecessary for authorities like Hampshire, that were already meeting their responsibilities for RE.

On strengthening schools’ accountability for the provision and quality of RE it was put forward that Ofsted already has a mechanism to do this.  However, recent investigation of Ofsted reports by the Monitoring Group had shown  that the comments given varied and did not comment on how the provision met the requirements of the agreed syllabus.

A proposed renewed and expanded role for SACREs in supporting and resourcing RE was supported.  The Inspector/Adviser suggested that an effective SACRE has certain characteristics, notably the provision of a clerk from the local authority to service the SACRE, a trained SACRE adviser who can also facilitate CPD for teachers, active participation from elected members of the local authority, and local authority support to ensure monitoring meetings and visits to schools happen. 

On the question of securing funding for SACREs it was felt this would be very complex to arrange.  It might be better to outline to local authorities a minimum requirement in terms of support for SACRE, such as those available in Hampshire. 

It was felt that the recommendation that SACREs should have a role in promoting community relations needed further clarification.  Hampshire SACRE’s advice document to schools relating to dress and absence could be regarded as related to promoting community relations.

Justine Ball, one of the inspector/advisers, would be presenting the findings of the two withdrawal surveys that she  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

To consider a report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services presenting the 2016-17 Annual Report of SACRE.

The Council considered the SACRE Annual Report for 2016/17 prepared and presented by Patricia Hannam, the County Inspector/Adviser. (Item 10 in the Minute Book).  Members were invited to make comments and ask questions. 

It was noted, for amendment, on page 39 that the Church of England was not listed among the religious faiths represented on SACRE. 

Clarification was requested regarding NQT recruitment (page 43).  It was agreed to add ‘Secondary’ as the figures only referred to them, not to primary teachers.  Members were informed that there are far fewer RE teachers being trained, with only two in 2016/17; although there were five in the current year,  2017/18.  It was noted that in 2017 there was a 30% shortfall, against government targets, of people applying to secondary post-graduate  specialist RE teacher training courses.

RESOLVED:

·         That SACRE approved the Annual Report and its distribution as specified in 3.1 of the report subject to the requested amendments.

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 last meeting on 19 June and future plans.

The Council received a report from Patricia Hannam, the County Inspector/Adviser on the activities of the South Central Hub and future plans (Item 11 in the Minute Book). 

Members were informed that a meeting of the South Central Hub had taken place on 13 November with representatives from seven SACREs present.  All felt it was important for SACREs to work collaboratively and that the meetings were worthwhile for sharing issues and concerns.

Members were encouraged to attend one of the Reading and Research Group meetings which were free and open to everyone. The current list of speakers was attached as an appendix to the report. It was noted that the speaker for the March meeting had been confirmed as Denise Cush  who would speak on her research relating to what religion means and the implications of this for teachers.

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

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 19 June 2017 (Item 12 in the Minute Book).

Members were shown a short video clip of the Youth Voice conference on 13 July which had been made by students from Wildern School. Thanks were given to the Chairman, Elizabeth Jenkerson, Gill Heron, Maureen Barnes and Howard Wright for helping with this very successful event. 

The next meeting of Youth voice would be 29 November, where they would be discussing the Interim Report of the Commission on RE and planning the Summer 2018 Conference.

RESOLVED:

·         That SACRE noted the report.

To receive any other business from Members of SACRE.

The Chairman stated that she would like the Interfaith Calendar to continue and asked Members to consider whether they would like to be involved with a task and finish group that would produce the 2019 Interfaith Calendar, taking on the work put in by the two advisers for the 2018 one.  She felt it was really worthwhile venture and hoped that she would be able to enlist SACRE members to help with producing next year’s.

She reminded Members to buy this year’s Interfaith Calendar before they left.

The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday 6 March 2018 in the Ashburton Hall, Hampshire County Council at 2.00pm. 

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Tuesday 6 March 2018 at 2.00 pm in the Ashburton Hall, Winchester.