Agenda and minutes

There were no announcements.

Apologies for absence were received from Mary Thorne and Peter Ginnings.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th November 2017.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th November 2017.

In discussion on the minutes, the Chair asked that the Local Authority send out Ramadan guidance to all schools before May.

                                                                        ACTION: Supporting People (OR)

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th November 2017 be approved and signed as a correct record.

To note the list of schools with Determinations.

Members noted the list of schools with and without Determinations. It was noted that Hawley Infants was now Hawley Primary School.

Members asked that the Clerk write to Edith Neville to inform them that their Determination was expiring on 26^th February and that they would have to provide daily collective worship of a broadly Christian character after that date to be compliant with the legislation.

It was also noted that Brookfield’s Determination would be expiring in June. The Clerk was asked to write to them.

RESOLVED –

(i)            THAT the list of schools with and without Determinations be noted;

(ii)          THAT Edith Neville be informed of the expiry of their Determination;

(iii)         THAT Brookfield School be reminded of the pending expiry of their Determination and the need to re-apply for renewal.

ACTION: Committee Services (VS)

To consider the draft SACRE annual report for 2016-17.

Consideration was given to the SACRE annual report. Members approved the latest draft.

The Clerk was asked to send the report to the DfE, NASACRE and the Local Authority.

                                                                        ACTION: Committee Services (VS)

RESOLVED –

THAT the SACRE annual report be approved.

To consider the collective worship guidance.

Consideration was given to the Collective Worship guidance.

The Chair noted that it had been written a few years ago and she expressed the view that it could be expanded. The Professional Advisor informed attendees that Harrow and Newham had produced good guidance on collective worship, which she would urge members of other SACREs to read.

The Chair invited members who would be interested in reviewing the collective worship guidance to contact her.

The Vice-Chair asked that the collective worship guidance be brought to the attention of Headteachers at the Headteachers’ Forum if it was still meeting.

RESOLVED –

THAT the comments above be noted.

To consider statistics from the National Association of Teachers of RE on RE teaching hours in secondary schools in Camden.

Consideration was given to a table of information from the National Association of Teachers of RE (NATRE). It contained information about the percentage of teaching hours devoted to RE for Camden secondary schools.  

The table only referred to lessons classed as RE, and it was noted that some schools referred to the subject as “Philosophy and Ethics” or “Theology”.

The NATRE had produced a model letter which SACREs could send to schools about their RE provision. Members discussed the letter and felt that it might need to be altered, but that it would be good in principle to send a letter on the topic to all schools in the borough which were not providing RE teaching, including VA schools and academies which did not fall within the remit of SACRE.

The Chair and Professional Advisor undertook to work on drafting a suitable letter to go out to the secondary schools which were not providing RE teaching according to the table.

RESOLVED –

(i)            THAT the statistics be noted;

(ii)          THAT letters be sent to the secondary schools in the borough where there was concern about the lack of recorded RE teaching.

ACTION: Chair, Professional Advisor and Clerk

To consider updates from the Professional Advisor to SACRE.

The Professional Advisor for SACRE informed members that the Commission on RE’s final report would be issued later in the year. She also informed members that the NASACRE AGM would be on 24^th May and held in London. It would be the 25^th anniversary of the foundation of NASACRE.

The meeting agreed to send the Chair as a delegate to the AGM.

RESOLVED –

THAT the Chair of Camden SACRE be Camden’s representative at the NASCARE AGM.

Date of next meeting:

·         Thursday, 26^th April 2018

Proposed dates for meetings in academic year 2018-19:

·         Tuesday, 23^rd October 2018

·         Tuesday, 15^th January 2019

·         Tuesday, 19^th March 2019

It was noted that the date of the next meeting was:

·         Thursday, 26^th April 2018

It was noted that proposed dates for meetings in academic year 2018-19 were:

·         Tuesday, 23^rd October 2018

·         Tuesday, 15^th January 2019

·         Tuesday, 19^th March 2019

There was no other business.