Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Renner-Thompson, Councillor Thorne, J. Cousin and B. Rasa.

Minutes of the meeting of the Northumberland Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE), held on 18 November 2020, as circulated, to be confirmed as a true record, and signed by the Chair.

T. Marley stated that he had given apologies for the last meeting.

D. Van-Der-Velde made a comment from Holocaust Memorial Day explaining that she felt perturbed that there had been no involvement from schools and she would be willing to assist and work with Northumberland County Council, Newcastle Council and North Tyneside Council by sharing ideas and collaborating.

L. Bowman followed on by stating that the Holocaust Memorial Day service was solemn and the Rabbi had been well received, but reminded members that there had been many incidents since WW2 and up to the present day including the situation in Ukraine.

C. Weir explained that she had not received any advice on the service to give to schools, which was corroborated by D. Cookson who explained that the information had not been provided until two days before the service.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education held on Wednesday, 8 December 2021, as circulated, be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

To receive an update from Caroline Weir, Part-time RE Consultant about the provision of RE in-service training and contacts with schools since the last related meeting. 

C. Weir updated members explaining that she had been completing work on a new syllabus, which would be discussed in more detail in the ASC meeting following SACRE and had been providing informal support to schools regarding curriculum queries.

RESOLVED that the report and information discussed be noted.

The NASACRE Newsletter

To receive the latest newsletter – for information.

Reminder of web site link:  www.nasacre.org.uk  for other interesting articles. 

RESOLVED that members had received this information via email.

To monitor progress with the Northumberland SACRE Action Plan and to consideR future development and monitoring of the action plan.

D. Cookson explained to members that whilst the aim to have a new syllabus by January 2022 had not been achieved, work was underway to finalise a new syllabus which would be discussed at the ASC.

KS4 and KS5 results would be monitored for the exams that were expected to take place in the summer term, however monitoring of collective worship had been paused due to Covid but would restart when able to.

The SACRE newsletter had moved to an online format with 113 views since it had been set up. Members discussed how to engage more with RE teachers and promote the newsletter, suggestions included utilising Northumberland Communications team and sending letters to teachers.

There had been some interest in sending a delegate to the annual NASACRE conference, a handful of parties had shown interest and would be granted funding, but numbers were yet to be decided.

Members discussed collective worship in school with the statement on the action plan regarding monitoring the number of pupils withdrawn and offering advice on schools on how to make collective worship inclusive to all pupils.

RESOLVED that the information be noted.

To consider the creation of a sub-committee to provide support and challenge to the Northumberland SACRE and consider the draft terms of reference.

J. Miller addressed members and explained the reasons behind creating a sub-committee to promote SACRE, generate enthusiasm, discussion and debate to understand the issues RE teachers were facing in schools.

D. Cookson explained the terms of reference on agenda item 9 could be adopted into the SACRE sub-committee.

Members of the sub-committee were agreed as follows:

J. Miller – Chair and Clerk

Cllr L. Bowman

S. Dearlove

A. Duffield

C. Hudson

T. Marley

D. Van-Der-Velde

RESOLVED that this was noted.

To receive a copy of the (draft) statutory annual report of Northumberland SACRE, for consideration and approval.  (Report to Follow)

A draft report had been circulated following the previous meeting for comments from members. J. Miller had noted the absence of exam result figures but this was due to the impact of Covid and pupils not sitting traditional exams.

J. Miller asked that School Workforce Census data be circulated to members for discussion at the next meeting.

RESOLVED that this was noted.

To consider the revised terms of reference for the Northumberland SACRE

It had been agreed at the previous SACRE meeting that S. Dearlove would be moved from a co-opted member to a member of Committee A “REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER CHURCHES AND FAITHS”, which required the constitution to be updated and refreshed.

D. Cookson suggested any comments should be emailed to him within the next four weeks, and that members would vote next meeting to adopt the updated terms of reference.

RESOLVED that this was noted.

To consider such other business as, in the opinion of the Chair, should, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.

Members enquired if “Introductions” could be added to the agenda and “Urgent Business” could be changed to “Any Other Business”

M. Khan and C. Naylor advised that they wished to resign from their positions.

D. Cookson informed members that the clerk to SACRE would contact the National Bodies for their nominations on potential members.

The next meeting of the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education will be held on Wednesday, 27 July 2022

The date of the next meeting was noted for 27 July 2022, but this could potentially be moved to two weeks earlier.

RESOLVED that this was noted.

­­­­­NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

AGREED SYLLABUS CONFERENCE

At a meeting of the Agreed Syllabus Conference held in Meeting Space, Block 1, Floor 2, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF on Wednesday, 2 February 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

PRESENT 

C. Weir
In the Chair

COUNCILLORS 

TEACHERS ASSOCIATIONS/UNIONS REPRESENTATIVES 

CHURCH OF ENGLAND REPRESENTATIVES 

REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER CHURCHES & FAITHS 

CO-OPTED REPRESENTATIVES  

S. Dearlove 

OFFICERS IN ATTENDANCE 

There was one observer present.

1.       APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies were received from Councillor Renner-Thompson, Councillor Thorne, J. Cousin, B. Rasa and P. Rusby.

2.       MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF AGREED SYLLABUS CONFERENCE HELD ON 14 JULY 2021.

T. Marley stated that he had given apologies for the last meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Agreed Syllabus Conference held on Wednesday, 8 December 2021, as circulated, be confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

3.       SHORTLIST OF AGREED SYLLABUS OPTIONS

C. Weir – RE consultant, explained that during the last meeting copies of the potential syllabuses were not available and that copies were taken away and digested after the meeting. All committee groups had agreed with the officer’s recommendation of RE Today syllabus B.

RE Today had been contacted regarding questions submitted from the committee, potential changes and comments made from committee A, responses included:

·       It would not be possible to edit the “AIM” from Model B, as changing the aim would have a substantial impact on the rest of the document.

·       A Foreword and an Introduction would need to be submitted to RE Today along with Northumberland photos. RE Today would provide updated Census data for inclusion in the syllabus.

·       RE Today had suggested that Localised Units would be acceptable, but SACRE members would need to draft these.

·       An online copy would be circulated for members to view the syllabus.

·       Changes could be requested if any inaccuracies were found, however there was no guarantee that all suggested changes could be resolved.

·       The Model Syllabus did not include any Key Stage 4 teaching units or suggestions as standard as the syllabus recommended following a GCSE course, but SACRE members could adapt items from the previous syllabus.

Following questions from members, the following information and comments were provided:

·       If members were to provide localised units, then RE Today would require the units to add to the syllabus pack to be printed off together, which could delay printing.

·       Members had commented on the Model B syllabus saying that it made a point of defining people by their religion e.g. Christians, Muslims etc. Members explained that they would not like to be defined by their religion.

·       Model B syllabus would be a positive challenge for teachers and would be a significant leap from the current syllabus.

·       The proposed syllabus could be completed by April, depending on whether committee members wished to add localised units.

D. Cookson suggested  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.