Agenda item

To receive feedback from WASACRE on how members can support the work of SACRE’s.

(a)       That the presentation be received; and                           

(b)       That the Challenge Adviser pursue holding the next meeting of SACRE in a school in Flintshire. 

The Challenge Adviser explained that at the meeting of WASACRE held in November 2014, some members had presented the feedback received from WASACRE members from their involvement in a NAPfRE activity.  The Challenge Adviser provided a detailed presentation which included the following feedback:-     

                        1. How can members contribute to the work of SACREs?

                        Share good practice           

The Challenge Adviser commented on the work of the Agathos Trust.

Visit school

A proforma had been designed that was used in Gwynedd when collective worship in schools was observed. 

Look for funding

It was queried whether there were streams of funding that could be accessed, particularly as SACRE membership included Councillors

Promote dialogue

The Challenge Adviser spoke of the possibility of undertaking work with groups such as teachers to promote the work of SACRE

                        2. How can we ensure regular attendance from all groups?

                        Variety of venues and times

The Challenge Adviser explained that Denbighshire County Council’s summer term SACRE meeting was to be held in a school in Ruthin rather than in the Council offices.  He welcomed this idea and suggested that the feeder primary schools could be invited to attend. 

Councillor Dave Mackie indicated that some meetings of the Education and Youth Overview & Scrutiny Committee had been held in outside locations and Members had found the experience to be useful.  Councillor Nigel Steele-Mortimer concurred and supported the idea for Flintshire SACRE meetings to be held in schools.     

                        3. How could you persuade people to become a SACRE member?

                        Presentations to Councillors

The Challenge Adviser indicated that he had provided a presentation to Councillors at Conwy County Council.

Opportunities: professional development, contribute to the Agreed Syllabus or support materials

The Challenge Adviser spoke of the importance of reminding colleagues of the opportunities that were available.      

            4. How can we monitor Religious Education (RE) and collective worship?

                        Scrutinising self-evaluation reports

The Challenge Adviser spoke of the suggestion to ask schools to complete a self-evaluation form once in a six year cycle.    

            5. How can we support schools to deliver good RE and collective worship?

                        Youth SACREs

The Challenge Adviser welcomed the idea to involve representatives from schools.  The Chairman indicated that a Youth SACRE had been in place during his involvement with Hackney Council and even though he welcomed the idea, he stated from his experience the Hackney Youth SACRE had a limited lifespan.

            Advice materials

The Chairman commented that SACRE did not have its own website but that the agenda, minutes and reports packs were included within a section on the Flintshire County Council website.  He felt that a dedicated SACRE website could be an area where resources and good practice could be shared.  The Challenge Adviser referred to the briefing note that he had mentioned earlier in the meeting and explained that one of the recommendations was to ask Directors to consider a network for RE.  He suggested that teacher groups could be established within schools and these groups could then meet and share good practice and provide feedback to SACRE of their experiences of delivery of RE and Collective Worship.  He felt that this could be explored from the new school term in September 2015 and suggested that a sub-group from SACRE could discuss this proposal.

                        6. How can we ensure that Local Authorities support SACRES?

                        Councillors on board

The Challenge Adviser spoke of the local authority representatives on SACRE. 

On the issue of holding SACRE meetings in schools, the Chairman was in general agreement.  The Challenge Adviser commented that Denbighshire SACRE only met in secondary schools and invited primary schools from that area to also attend.  The Chairman felt that this was good practice and could be adopted for meetings of Flintshire SACRE. 

On the issue of Membership, he raised significant concern at the reducing number of teacher and religious denominations representatives that attended SACRE meetings but added that the local education authority was always well represented by Councillors.  In response to a question from the Chairman about how religious denomination representative nominations were sought, the Challenge Adviser explained that this was through Cytûn.  Dora Jones indicated that a meeting of the North East Wales Cytûn was due to be held the following day and in response to a request from the Chairman, she agreed to raise the issue of recruitment to SACRE at that meeting. 

The Challenge Adviser spoke of school to school support which he felt was a good way of sharing good practice.  He commented on teacher representatives on SACRE and the possibility of them convening small groups to share good practice across North Wales.

In response to a question from the Chairman, Ibad Hussain indicated meetings with RE colleagues from other schools did not currently take place but that this was an idea that was being considered. 

The Chairman queried whether cross border meetings between schools, to share good practice and highlight any issues, could be considered.  He referred to the importance of ensuring that RE departments in secondary schools met on a regular basis and commented on the meetings that were held involving St. Richard Gwyn High School.  Work with the five feeder primary schools also took place on a regular basis which allowed close working between the primary and secondary schools.  The Chairman spoke of discussions with GWE on school to school collaboration which he had found to be very useful.  He asked the members if they agreed to the next meeting, which would be the first of the new academic year, being held in a secondary school; this was agreed. 

The Chairman spoke of self-improving schools and on the issue of self-evaluation suggested that this would help schools to identify areas where improvement was needed; the sharing of good practice would also assist this.  He welcomed the setting up of a Youth SACRE but suggested that if the teacher support group was set up first, then a Youth SACRE could follow.  Following the discussion, it was agreed that the Challenge Adviser would pursue holding the next meeting of SACRE in a school in Flintshire. 

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the presentation be received; and                           

(b)       That the Challenge Adviser pursue holding the next meeting of SACRE in a school in Flintshire.