Issue - meetings

Report by the Director of Children’s Services.

31.1     Councillor Roy Galley, as Chair of the Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education (SACRE), introduced the report and highlighted a number of issues for the attention of the Committee.  The key discussion points are summarised below:

• Timing of the East Sussex SACRE Annual Report.   Councillor Galley informed the Committee of SACRE’s view that the findings of the annual report to NASACRE (National Association of SACREs) could be more effectively actioned if the deadline for its production was brought forward (the annual report was attached as Appendix 1 to the report to the Committee).   As a result, SACRE is raising this issue at the national level to see if an earlier deadline would be beneficial to other local SACREs.
• Religious Education (RE) Agreed Syllabus.   SACRE has now completed the major process of reviewing and revising the RE syllabus and the resultant agreed syllabus is now in place in East Sussex Schools.
• Training Programme.   SACRE has an ongoing training programme.   This year’s training conference will include a focus on celebrating the similarities across the Abrahamic religions and will be led by the Muslim tutor of Eton College.  
• School Visits.  SACRE has an ongoing programme of visiting all secondary schools in East Sussex.  With this in mind, nearly all of the maintained secondary schools have been visited, as well as a number of secondary academies.  SACRE also visits individual primary schools where it believes additional support maybe needed.  
• National Curriculum requirement to teach a broad-based curriculum which includes Religious Education.   Based in part on the school visits mentioned in the above point, Councillor Galley confirmed that SACRE is generally satisfied that schools in the primary sector are complying with national standards for the provision of religious education.   At the secondary level, SACRE believes there is some evidence which indicates there a number of maintained schools which may need additional support if they are to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum with regard to RE.   In support of this view, Councillor Galley circulated a report from the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE).  The report cited figures taken from ‘National Workforce’ data provided by the Department for Education.  The Committee asked for more detail about the data contained in the report and clarification as to whether the relevant requirements for RE are being met in secondary schools in East Sussex.   

In response the Committee were advised that the data contained in the circulated item required  careful interpretation as, for example, different schools often use different descriptions for the teaching sessions via which RE is taught.  As a result, the data may not provide a complete picture of the levels and status of RE teaching in East Sussex.    Mandy Watson also sought to reassure the Committee that from the perspective of the Diocese of Chichester, the Agreed Syllabus for RE in East Sussex does meet relevant requirements and is of a good standard. Furthermore, that the Diocese is pleased that all schools in East Sussex will be using the Church  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31

Report by the Director of Children’s Services

31.1     Councillor Roy Galley, as Chair of the Standing Advisory Committee on Religious Education (SACRE), introduced the report and highlighted a number of key issues for the Committee to consider, including:

·          That the five year review of the Religious Education syllabus had been completed and would be presented to the national SACRE conference on 29 March 2017.    The new syllabus takes into account requirements relating to the duty to promote ‘British Values’ and to support the moral, social, cultural and mental development of young people.     

·          As part of its development programme members of SACRE have visited 9 secondary schools and a number of primary schools.   When compared to other SACREs across the country it appears such visits are not common place.  However, East Sussex SACRE feel such visits are essential if Members are to develop an informed picture of the nature of the RE provision at individual schools within the county.  So far SACRE members have only been able to visit maintained schools.   Given the perceived value of such visits, it is also the ambition of SACRE to visit academies within the county.

·          SACRE is keen to engage more with young people and as a result, meetings have been held with members of the Youth Cabinet.   Feedback from this engagement included the view that whilst Youth Cabinet members felt they had a good understanding of Christianity and Judaism, there was a general view that more could be done to develop their understanding of other major world faiths.   Consideration is therefore being given to arranging a student conference where these matters could be discussed. </AI8>

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·          SACRE is keen to ensure that its membership draws from a wide as possible range of faiths.   Work is this therefore being undertaken to see what can be done to further diversify membership.

31.2     In response to a question about its interactions with the National Commission for Religious Education, the Committee were informed that SACRE had made a submission to the Commission.  The Committee also asked for detail about what plans are in place to ensure training will be provided to schools with respect to ongoing changes in RE.  In response the Committee were informed that the Department have been actively working on supporting training in relation to the ‘Understanding Christianity’ project and that there is also a training plan in place for Continuing Professional Development for the coming year.  It was also noted that due to financial pressures on school budgets, it appears that some schools are not accessing the training offered to them.   As a result the Department are seeking to develop training events that are attractive to schools and fit for purpose.   The Committee also noted that the RE ‘take-up’ figures for both the GCSE full and short courses in East Sussex was below the national average.   In response the Committee were informed that the Department’s expectation is that the gap between local and national figures will reduce as changes introduced by the National Curriculum take effect.

31.3     RESOLVED to note:

1)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31