Agenda and minutes

To elect the Chair for Camden SACRE for the 2023-24 academic year.

RESOLVED –

THAT Mary Thorne be elected Chair of Camden SACRE for 2023-24.

To elect the Vice-Chair for Camden SACRE for the 2023-24 academic year.

RESOLVED –

THAT Ann Boater be elected Vice-Chair of Camden SACRE for 2023-24.

Broadcasting of meeting

In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, this meeting is being recorded and broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for six months after the meeting. After that time, recordings are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you address the meeting, you are deemed to consent 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.

Broadcasting of meeting

The Chair announced: “In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, this meeting is being recorded and broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for six months after the meeting. After that time, recordings are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you address the meeting, you are deemed to consent 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 Dr Lynndy Levin, Sophie Fegan, Felicity Djerehe, Stephanie Ellner, Rev Damian Mason, Councillor Izzy Lenga, Councillor Sylvia McNamara, Councillor Jenny Mulholland, and Councillor Jenny Headlam-Wells.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th May 2023.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th May 2023.

With regard to the minute on the Edith Neville Determination, it was noted that about 90% of the students at that school were from Muslim backgrounds and a question was asked about whether there was provision in community schools for Muslim pupils to pray. Claire Clinton, the Professional Advisor, said she would contact schools to see if this was the case.

                                                  ACTION: Professional Advisor to SACRE

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th May 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.

To note the terms of reference for Camden SACRE.

Consideration was given to the terms of reference. It was noted that Paragraph 5.5 stated that the annual report would be received at the autumn meeting.

The Professional Advisor said this was not possible, due to the autumn meeting being fairly early in the term and because of the time needed to gather and analyse information about exam results.

RESOLVED –

THAT the terms of reference be noted.

To note the membership of Camden SACRE.

The meeting was informed that three new teacher members (Rose O’Brien, Sinead Costelloe and Emily Knowles) had been appointed to Panel C by their trade union (the NEU).

The Professional Advisor to SACRE announced she was in the process of finding Hindu and Sikh representatives.

RESOLVED –

THAT the membership list and the membership update be noted.

To note the list of schools with Determinations.

Consideration was given to the list of schools with and without Determinations.

The Professional Advisor and the Clerk would write to Eleanor Palmer School early in 2024 to let them know that their Determination would expire in June 2024.

                                                  ACTION: Professional Advisor and Clerk

RESOLVED –

THAT the list of schools with and without Determinations be noted.

To consider a presentation on the Faith Forum.

Members received a presentation from Halima Khanom, a Council employee working as a Community Partner, on the Faith Forum.

She highlighted that the Council had developed the Faith Forum to connect with a wider group of people than the Faith Leaders Forum. The Council was trying to re-activate dormant relationships which had existed between some people of faith and the council as an institution. They had been working on the response to the refugee response and involving faith communities in helping new arrivals. Ms Khanom added that she and her colleagues were also helping faith groups apply for grants for their community work. There was also interest in the education space, and ensuring that people knew about the background and the symbolism of each other’s festivals.

The recent violence in Israel and the Gaza Strip had led to more of a focus on reassurance work, but the service intended to move back towards longer term plans.

People who had queries about the Faith Forum were encouraged to contact the team on faith@camden.gov.uk.

RESOLVED –

THAT the presentation be noted.

To note information on the RE hubs programme.

Claire Clinton, the Professional Advisor, introduced members to the RE Hubs project and its website (Explore RE in your Region (re-hubs.uk)).

She highlighted that they accredited speakers and places of worship for schools. So far, about 100 places of worship and 250 speakers had been accredited. RE hubs explained to them what they could and could not do in order to maintain accreditation (such as no proselytising).

She also explained that there was CPD (continuous professional development) available for teachers.

RESOLVED -

THAT the presentation be noted. 

To note information on the NASACRE webinar programme for 2023-24.

Members noted the NASACRE webinar programme. There would be a regional meeting of NASACRE for chairs and vice-chairs of London SACREs on 8^th November at 6.30pm.

The Professional Advisor highlighted that NASACRE offered free webinars to SACREs which paid a £50 annual fee. The clerk would liaise with NASACRE to check if Camden had paid this.

                                                  ACTION: Clerk to SACRE

RESOLVED –

THAT the programme be noted.

To note DfE data on Camden secondary schools.

The Professional Advisor introduced the data from the Department for Education on teaching hours for RE and related subjects in Camden schools. She noted it was based on information schools provided to the DfE and so it was incomplete as some schools may not have completed the relevant questionnaires.

She noted that RE was a shortage subject and so there were bursaries available towards living expenses for student teachers who wished to become RE teachers.

Owen Rees said that schools with nil returns would be written to in order to clarify their RE arrangements.

ACTION: Owen Rees (Camden Learning)

RESOLVED –

THAT the statistics be noted.

To consider SACRE priorities for 2023-24.

The Professional Advisor spoke to the report on SACRE priorities for 2023-24. One of the key priorities had been to re-energise the primary and secondary RE networks, and it was through this that some of the new SACRE members had been recruited.

Owen Rees, Camden Learning, suggested that the Ramadan guidance would need to be re-published in advance of the start of Ramadan in 2024.  The Professional Advisor said she would do so, and would issue a draft via email for members to comment on.

                                                  ACTION: Professional Advisor

RESOLVED –

THAT the report be noted.

To note the process for producing a draft annual report to go to the spring term SACRE meeting.

The Professional Advisor stated that data on exam results would be available in November. Once this was available, a draft report could be produced and it would be sent to the Chair and then to other members.

There was no other business.