Issue - meetings

To consider a report to approve the draft SACRE Annual Report. 

            That the draft report be amended as suggested, finalised, published and sent to WASACRE for inclusion on their website. 

The Challenge Adviser introduced the draft annual report of Flintshire SACRE 14-15 which had been circulated to members with the agenda.

                        He detailed the content of the report, which included examination results for Religious Studies Full Course, Short Course and A Levels, and asked members to advise him of any amendments that were required.  He noted that the report was shorter than in previous years.   

                        In referring to page 16, the Chairman said that it was gratifying that no complaints had been received by SACRE.  He also commented on the positive direction of RE and the role of the local authority and the emerging role of Gwe. 

                        Councillor Chris Bithell queried whether the examination results were for 2013 as shown and in response, Mr. Gareth Wyn Jones said that the results that were reported for Maes Garmon were for 2014.  The Challenge Adviser indicated that he would amend the date on the document.  Councillor Bithell also requested further clarification on the figures shown under examination results on page 17 which were different to the details provided in the tables on pages 23 to 25.  He raised concerns that the figures being presented were out of date.

                        The Challenge Adviser stated that once the report had been amended, it would be sent to WASACRE to include on their website.  He spoke of a three year review that was undertaken by Welsh Government on annual reports and once this had been completed, the findings would be presented to SACRE. 

                        Councillor Bithell also felt that the inclusion of narrative and the consideration of trends analysis would assist with the identification of the number of pupils who had applied for courses in RE and how many schools had put pupils forward for the examinations. 

                        In response to a question from Reverend Huw Powell Davies, the Challenge Adviser confirmed that once the document had been amended, it would be translated into Welsh as WASACRE required the document bilingually. 

                        The Chairman thanked the Challenge Adviser for his work on the annual report.        

            RESOLVED:

That the draft report be amended as suggested, finalised, published and sent to WASACRE for inclusion on their website.