Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Leila Roy, Maryam Eslamdoust, Oliver Lewis and Phil Rosenberg and from Jim Waters, Lynne Trigg, Lynndy Levin, Alice Fuller, Shahanaz Begum and Jean Harrison.

SACRE members welcomed Gerry Cohen to the meeting and thanked him for his interest in serving as a teacher member of SACRE. It was agreed that he become a member of the committee, subject to the confirmation of his nomination as a teacher representative by his trade union (the NASUWT).

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd February 2015.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd February 2015.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes be approved and signed as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider applications for renewals of Determinations and to note the current list of schools with Determinations.

Paperwork from Torriano Infants, Torriano Juniors and Hampstead schools is attached.

Consideration was given to the Determination requests from Torriano Infants, Torriano Juniors and Hampstead School in the agenda pack and to the supplementary information tabled from Primrose Hill School.

Members welcomed the information provided by the school. However, they said they were disappointed that the school had chosen not to consult parents as part of the process of applying for a Determination renewal. They agreed to renew its Determination.

Members welcomed the information provided by the school. They agreed to renew its Determination.

Members welcomed the information provided by the school. They also noted verbal comments from Michelle Chalibamba, who taught at the school, and Peter Ginnings, who had visited the school. They agreed to grant a Determination to the school.

Members noted the information provided by the school. However, there was some confusion about the content of assemblies, as the KS2 assembly list listed topics of a religious nature whereas the timetable for assemblies had topics on social and moral development instead.

Members were of the view that, before considering a school’s application, there should have been a visit to the school by the Professional Advisor and/or SACRE members. They noted that this might be difficult due to time or resource constraints. However, they thought that this would be helpful in cases such as Primrose Hill as there would then be able to be a report back to SACRE from those who visited to explain what the collective worship they had witnessed had been like and whether it had paid enough attention to religious and spiritual matters as well as the social, moral and cultural development of the children.

RESOLVED –

(i)            THAT a Determination be granted to Torriano Infants’ School;

(ii)          THAT a Determination be granted to Torriano Juniors’ School;

(iii)         THAT a Determination be granted to Hampstead School;

(iv)         THAT further consideration of the application from Primrose Hill School take place at a future meeting once a visit had taken place to the school.

ACTION: Clerk to SACRE &
Professional Advisor to SACRE

To note a verbal report from the NASACRE conference.

Lesley Prior, the Professional Advisor to SACRE, reported back on the NASACRE (National Association of SACREs) Conference which had taken place in Birmingham on 21^st May. She had served as Chair of NASACRE and had now stepped down from that role but remained a member of the Executive. The new Chair of NASACRE was David Hampshire.

The keynote speaker at the NASCARE conference had been Charles Clarke. He was working with others to produce a booklet on the problems facing Religious Education. Members were advised that a podcast of his keynote address and links to presentations by other speakers could be seen at http://www.nasacre.org.uk/conference-and-agm

As Camden was a member of NASACRE, Camden SACRE members could access the password-protected part of the website. The Clerk would email the username and password to SACRE members.

To note updates from the Professional Advisor to SACRE.

The Professional Advisor informed members that she was involved in the Expert Advisory Group on RE, which was aiming to provide non-statutory guidance on the subject. She had also given evidence, in a personal capacity, to the Commission on Religion & Faith in Public Life. She had said that the key issue for RE teaching was not the syllabus but how well-trained those delivering it were.

It was noted that there had been an increase in the number of teaching students who were opting to teach RE. However, it would take several years for this increase to have an impact ‘at the chalkface’.

There was no other business.

Dates of future meetings would be circulated to members following liaison between the Chair, Professional Advisor and Clerk.

                                                            ACTION: Clerk to SACRE