Agenda and minutes

It was announced that Amanda Szewczyk-Radley was joining the Committee as a member of Panel B (Church of England) and that Christine Cargill had stepped down from Panel B as she no longer worked in the borough.

Apologies for absence were received from Rev. B. Ananda Mangala, Alice Fuller, Esther Fenty, Abdul Quadir, Councillor Mike Katz and Councillor Jonny Bucknell.

Amanda Szewcyk-Radley declared that she was the Headteacher of Edith Neville School and so would leave the room during the decision-making on that item.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd October 2012.

It was noted that Alan Brine’s name had been spelt incorrectly in the 23^rd October 2012 minutes and that the minutes should be amended to rectify this.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd October 2012 be signed and approved as a correct record, subject to the correction above.

Members enquired about what had happened since the last meeting with regard to the situation at Haverstock.

Colin Adams reported that he had notified Michael Shew, the Interim Assistant Director for Achievement, of the situation. It was now a matter for the Local Authority to decide whether to do anything further. It was agreed to follow this up with the Local Authority.  

Members asked if there were other schools in a similar situation. Mr Adams said that, to his knowledge, he wasn’t aware of any similar concerns about other schools. Other schools seemed to be meeting the collective worship requirements or had obtained a Determination. If they were not complying with statutory requirements, it would be up to OFSTED to note this in their inspection reports if they wished.

To consider the renewal of the Determination from Edith Neville Primary School and update on the Determination from Brookfield Primary School.

Edith Neville

Mr Adams commented that he had visited Edith Neville and been impressed by the inclusive assembly that they had held there, and how well it ‘fitted together’.

Rev Walters said he shared Mr Adams’ view and felt that Edith Neville offered a good example of how to conduct collective worship in a religiously pluralist school.

The Headteacher said that she had experience in teaching in a Church of England School before taking up her post at Edith Neville. The C of E school she had been working in also had a large number of Muslim pupils, and she had worked with their families to be inclusive in the way the school dealt with religion. 

There was a discussion about the importance of time for reflection. This could be a time for prayer for children who wanted to pray, but also a time for silent thought amongst children who didn’t want to.

Councillor Jirira said that it was key that children learned about world religions. She added that it was important that children from non-Christian backgrounds – of which there were many in Camden – understood about Christianity so that they could gain the religious literacy needed to understand majority-Christian British society.

Ms Szewczyk-Radley left the room and members then deliberated on the Edith Neville Determination.

RESOLVED –

THAT the Determination for Edith Neville School be granted.

Ms Szewczyk-Radley then re-entered the room.

Brookfield School

Colin Adams informed the Committee that he had spoken with the Head of Brookfield School and that he would be visiting the school before the Easter break. He said that it was likely that Brookfield would be submitting a request for a Determination renewal to the June meeting.

Mr Adams confirmed that the joint conference with Islington SACRE would be on 20^th March at 4.30pm in the Crowndale Centre. Alan Brine would be the main speaker.

Mr Adams said he would send out a reminder of the conference to encourage attendance.

Members noted the statement from NASACRE and AREIAC on Circular 1/94. It was the view of those organisations that the Circular did not have legal standing and that schools should not consider it a ‘barrier’ to collective worship. It was agreed to note the statement and to continue to provide local guidance to schools about good practice in Collective Worship.

The next meeting of SACRE will be on 11^th June 2013.

The next meeting would be on 11^th June 2013 at 5.30pm.

There was no other business.