Agenda, decisions and minutes

To appoint a Chair of the Committee for 2022-2023.

Cllr MB was nominated and accepted as Chair.

KB welcomed colleagues to the meeting.  It was confirmed that the numbers present meant that the meeting was quorate and invited nominations for appointment of Chair.  Cllr MB was nominated and accepted as Chair.

To appoint a Vice Chair of the Committee for the year 2022–2023.

Following discussion, the meeting agreed to the proposal of Mr Julian Lewis as Vice Chair to the Committee.

KB advised election of Vice Chair be considered in a rotating pattern from the representative group and called for nominations in turn from the Church Representatives.  Following discussion, the meeting agreed to the proposal of Mr Julian Lewis as Vice Chair to the Committee.

John Morgan, St. Anthony RC School; Councillors Adele Davies-Cooke and Roz Mansell; Amira Mattar Westwood CP School, Buckley; Claire Homard Chief Officer; and Robert Hughes, Coleg Cambria

Members are reminded that they must declare the existence and nature of their declared personal interests. 

None declared

None declared

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 9^th February 2022 and 24^th November 2022.

Agreed: minutes accepted as a true record.

In response to Cllr AP, VB advised that the meeting was receiving the minutes of the meetings of 9 February and 24 November 2022 as the May meeting had been cancelled pending confirmation of Elected members and the November meeting was not quorate. The minutes could not be submitted for approval until this meeting.

Agreed: minutes accepted as a true record.

To receive a draft annual report for approval from Vicky Barlow, Senior Manager for School Improvement, Education and Youth Portfolio.

The meeting accepted the report and unanimously approved. Chair thanked VB on behalf of the meeting for the work that had gone into producing the report. 

VB presented the detailed draft Annual Report on the work of SACRE during the last year. The meeting accepted the report and unanimously approved. Chair thanked VB on behalf of the meeting for the work that had gone into producing the report. 

To receive a report from Vicky Barlow, Senior Manager for School Improvement, Education and Youth Portfolio.

Action: VB to share examples in future reports

The committee acknowledged the report and asked that schools be thanked for their hard work on behalf of SACRE.

Action: VB to acknowledge

VB referred to the detailed report circulated with the agenda. VB informed new members of the Committee of our practice to look at last term’s Estyn reports on RVE and Collective Worship.

VB pleased to note that there were no recommendations on statutory practices for those schools inspected and that RVE is well positioned to enable pupils to understand their local and wider community.

Action: VB to share examples in future reports

Cllr PC pleased to see examples of diversity expressed in schools and was encouraged by school celebrations through collective worship. VB endorsed the view that a real strength of our schools is how they embrace collective worship.

The committee acknowledged the report and asked that schools be thanked for their hard work on behalf of SACRE.

Action: VB to acknowledge

To receive an update on the terms of reference from Kim Brookes, Senior Manager, Business Support and School Governance, Education and Youth Portfolio.

Agreed: Committee agreed the recommendation that the membership of SACRE /SAC for RVE remain the same to 2025.

Action: Draft terms of reference to be considered at future meeting

KB informed the meeting that as the new curriculum is not yet fully implemented, Wales Government have advised Authorities that whilst the existing SACRE and future Standing Advisory Council for RVE (SAC for RVE) are composed differently, both committees will need to co-exist during the legacy years on the old curriculum to 2025.   Authorities are to determine their own arrangements which can provide for membership of each committee to be the same.  During the time to 2025, we will need to decide on future membership of the SAC for RVE to ensure representatives the relevant traditions of our area are appropriately reflected.  The Committee was asked to note that the local authority must take all reasonable steps to secure that the membership of the group is broadly proportionate to the strength of each religion, denomination, or conviction in its local area.

Agreed: Committee agreed the recommendation that the membership of SACRE /SAC for RVE remain the same to 2025.

Action: Draft terms of reference to be considered at future meeting

Action: VB to circulate the letter and recommended participation from Flintshire

            WASACRE Spring Meeting: meeting was informed that 4 representatives from each authority may attend the Spring Conference online, details to follow

            VB also pleased to provide a nomination had been received from the Presbyterian Church for a second nominee

VB informed the meeting of letter received from WASACRE asking for support from authorities for their  working group on the development and implementation of the agreed syllabus. Committee welcomed the approach.

Action: VB to circulate the letter and recommended participation from Flintshire

WASACRE Spring Meeting: meeting was informed that 4 representatives from each authority may attend the Spring Conference online, details to follow

VB also pleased to provide a nomination had been received from the Presbyterian Church for a second nominee

Future meetings will be held at 4pm on the following dates:

Wednesday 7 June 2023

Action: VB to send Cllr DO copy of the WASCRE guide.

Meeting agreed to proposals from VB to receive two presentations at future meetings:   Amira Mattar on her work in implementing the new Curriculum at Westwood schools and Lyn Oakes on how heads of RE in secondary sector are preparing for the new curriculum.

In response to Cllr DO as a new member of the Committee, agreed that VB organise a workshop for new /all members

Action: VB to send Cllr DO copy of the WASCRE guide.

Date of next meeting, 4pm on Wednesday 7 June 2023

Action: JD to consider possibility of hosting future meeting at a Church in Wales school                                      

Meeting ended 16.58pm