Agenda and minutes

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair to announce the following: ‘In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to having your contributions recorded and broadcast, including video when switched on, and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.’

Any other announcements

Broadcast of meeting

The Chair made the following announcement: ‘In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to having your contributions recorded and broadcast, including video when switched on, and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.’

Apologies for absence were received from Abdul Quadir, Cllr Sylvia McNamara, Cllr Izzy Lenga, Cllr Jenny Headlam-Wells, Felicity Djerehe, Rev Damien Mason, Rev Natasha Beckles, and Sarah Richardson. Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Jenny Mulholland.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2023.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 7^th February 2023.

The Vice-Chair, Ann Boater, asked that the minute on the Determination application include mention that SACRE members would like to know what governors and parents thought of the application.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 7^th February 2023 be agreed, subject to the addition above.

To note the guidance on collective worship circulated to schools.

The collective worship guidance that had gone out to schools was noted.

To note the NASACRE briefing and to consider sending people to their conference.

Consideration was given to the NASACRE briefing.

Claire Clinton, the Professional Advisor to SACRE, said that the NASACRE conference would be on 22^nd May at Fishmonger’s Hall. It was coming up to the 30^th anniversary of the foundation of NASACRE. 

Owen Rees, the Head of Governor Services and Company Secretary for Camden Learning, said that one of the teacher representatives (Sarah Richardson) had indicated an interest in attending. The Chair, Mary Thorne, said she was not able to attend on 22 May due to other commitments, but would recommend it to others.

Ms Clinton said that there would be awards for the longest-serving member of a SACRE and to those who had made the biggest contribution to RE in their local area. Members agreed to nominate Lesley Prior to the latter category.

Ms Clinton explained that there would be a range of workshops being held by NASACRE. She would be presenting one with the British Library on sacred texts. A list of workshops would be circulated to SACRE members and there was a request to let the clerk know if members were interested in attending any.

                                                  ACTION: Professional Advisor & Clerk

RESOLVED –

THAT the briefing and the comments above be noted.

To note the figures from the 2021 census on the religious demographics of Camden.

Consideration was given to the statistics regarding religion in Camden from the 2021 census.

It was noted that there were more people identifying as “non-religious” compared to the previous (2011) census, and many religious communities had reduced in size.

Members voiced the view that, in addition to educating children about the principal religions of the area, RE should give pupils the opportunity to learn about religious beliefs that they would not normally come across.

Members commented that it was useful to children to learn about the Judeo-Christian background of many British national traditions – as could be seen from the coronation ceremony.

Claire Clinton said that there had been some interesting surveys of what people who said they had “no religion” or “religion not stated” believed. Some people may not have said they believed in God, but believed in supernatural phenomena such as angels.

RESOLVED –

THAT the statistics and the comments above be noted.

To note the list of schools with Determinations and to consider an application for a Determination from Edith Neville School.

Consideration was given to a Determination application from Edith Neville School.

Although there had not been the chance to visit the school, Claire Clinton had had a phone conversation with the Headteacher.

The school was about 90% Muslim, and the Head was keen to take an approach to collective worship which was inclusive of those pupils’ religious traditions and avoided children being withdrawn from collective worship. They had also invited parents to observe an assembly one week.  

Ms Clinton said that the school tried to involve the school council in some assemblies, and that they had mixed-age group assemblies on Tuesdays. This was particularly helpful for some children who were not fluent in English.

Members agreed to grant the Determination.

RESOLVED –

THAT a Determination be granted to Edith Neville School.

Claire Clinton informed the meeting of the launch of RE Hubs, which aimed to be a one-stop website to help RE teachers. It was going live on 1^st June.

She would circulate the PowerPoint presentation on the Hubs to SACRE members.

                                                  ACTION: Professional Advisor and Clerk

The dates of future SACRE meetings will be:

·         Thursday, 19^th October 2023

·         Thursday, 22^nd February 2024

·         Thursday, 9^th May 2024

The dates of future SACRE meetings are:

·       Thursday, 19^th October 2023

·       Thursday, 22^nd February 2024

·       Thursday, 9^th May 2024