Agenda item

To consider a report from the Director of Children’s Services on the activities and discussions of the monitoring group in relation to monitoring the effectiveness of the Agreed Syllabus Living Difference III across Hampshire.

SACRE considered a report from Patricia Hannam, County Inspector/Adviser, on the discussions of the Monitoring Group at their meeting on  28 January 2019.

Members were informed that the Monitoring Group had discussed the 2018 RS GCSE results and concerns had been raised about the dramatic fall in the number of entries, which was felt to be largely due to schools focussing on the EBacc. It was highlighted that 11 schools that entered almost all of their cohort accounted for about two thirds of all entries. Overall the results had been pleasing. Further concerns were expressed about how HIAS is working with schools to ensure that all students study  RE in KS4 even if they are not doing the GCSE.

Members were made aware that the large gender gap had re-emerged.  It was suggested that the new GCSE required more subject knowledge and fast writing;  whereas previously there were more themed issues which boys engaged with.  It was noted that it was a national issue, not a local one.  There was discussion about how children are guided to choose their GCSEs and whether the timetabling of subjects has an impact.  It was proposed that SACRE should examine what motivates children’s choice to do RS, particularly boys, and whether they would make the same choice again; it was felt that doing this just before they leave would be the best time.  Patricia Hannam suggested that she could approach the two most commonly used examination boards to ask them to look at this issue.

Justine Ball, the Primary Adviser, indicated an amendment to paragraph 3.3 of the report, that the infant guidance pack for Understanding Christianity had been written, but would be published shortly.

On behalf of the Monitoring Group the Chairman had contacted the Assistant Director for Education and Inclusion to ask what training SIM (School Improvement Managers and LLP (Lead Learning Partners) had on the Locally Agreed Syllabus.  It was confirmed that currently there is none. Inspectors are taking a greater view of the whole curriculum, but in only a half day annual review it is difficult to pick up problem.  The two inspector/advisers will have the opportunity to speak about the Agreed Syllabus to the other inspectors.

Patricia Hannam updated Members on the Religious Literacy Research Project informing them of the launch on 4 June 2019 of its Report.  

Members were informed that there was a reliable supply of good new RE teachers from Winchester University, with good recruitment, partly due to the re-instatement of the bursary.  More of a problem was that there were fewer RE positions in school.  Monitoring visits had also highlighted a reduction in the funding available for professional development; creative ways to ensure that teachers have access to Agreed Syllabus training was discussed.

Patricia Hannam invited comments on a proposal to monitor more schools than currently; that the money for monitoring visits could be used more intelligently and creatively by inviting five schools at a time to meet with the advisers.  It was agreed that this approach should be tried.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.    That SACRE thanked the Monitoring Group for its report.

2.    That SACRE requested that the Monitoring Group looks for new ways to monitor the provision of RE in a greater number of schools.

3.    That SACRE requested the Monitoring Group to investigate the choices made by boys in relation to RE.