Agenda and minutes

To elect the Chair of Camden SACRE for the 2018-19 academic year.

Shahanaz Begum was proposed and seconded for the position of Chair of SACRE. There were no other nominations.

RESOLVED –

THAT Shahanaz Begum be elected Chair of SACRE for the 2018-19 academic year.

To elect the Vice-Chair of Camden SACRE for the 2018-19 academic year.

It was agreed to defer the election of the Vice-Chair to the next meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Nasim Ali, Maria Higson, Oliver Lewis and Nazma Rahman.

There were no declarations of interest.

It was announced that the Professional Advisor, Lesley Prior, was unwell and that Mary Thorne would be covering some of her duties in her absence.

The meeting sent their best wishes to Lesley Prior for her recovery.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 26^th April 2018.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 26^th April 2018.

The Chair informed members that she and Ann Boater had visited Edith Neville school over the summer.

The Clerk confirmed that Brookfield School had been written to in order to inform them that their Determination had expired.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 26^th April 2018 be approved and signed as a correct record.

To note the current membership of SACRE and to consider new members.

It was noted that Michelle Chalibamba and Ann Boater no longer taught in Camden and so would be stepping down from Panel C (Teachers).

The Clerk reported that Paul Kayser, the Head of RE at Parliament Hill School, had expressed an interest in serving on this body. Concern was expressed about the small number of members in Panels B (Church of England) and C (Teachers).

To note the list of Camden community schools with Determinations.

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

It was noted that Torriano Infants and Juniors had been merged and so there should simply be one entry for Torriano Primary School.

Members queried the schools without Determinations. Owen Rees, School Governance and Information Consultant, highlighted that applying for a Determination was at a school’s discretion. They may wish to continue to have a daily act of collective worship of a broadly Christian character as required in legislation. If they were not complying with this requirement, OFSTED should point it out to them in an inspection as a breach of legislation. 

It was suggested that communications could go out to schools without Determinations reminding them of the option to submit one. The Chair and Mr Rees would liaise about the best way to bring this option to schools’ attention.

                                                            ACTION: Chair and Owen Rees

RESOLVED –

THAT the list of schools be noted, with the amendment above.

To note the letter sent to secondary schools on RE.

Consideration was given to a copy of the letter which had been circulated in the name of the Chair to secondary schools in the borough.

Mr Rees reported that one response had been received to it so far, and he would report back to the next meeting as it was likely more responses would have come in by them.

                                                            ACTION: Owen Rees

To consider the report of the Commission on RE and the response from the Chair of NASACRE.

Consideration was given to the Commission for RE report and the response from Paul Smalley, the Chair of NASACRE.

Councillor Wright said she had been impressed with the report and found it informative.

Mary Thorne highlighted that there were differences of opinion between the ‘RE world’ and the ‘SACRE world’. Those active in the RE teaching sphere at the national level wanted a national entitlement to RE for pupils and a curriculum which was drafted by experts. Those who were involved in NASACRE wanted to maintain local autonomy and local connections between faith groups, teachers and LAs through the SACRE and Agreed Syllabus Conference process.

Some members disagreed with the proposals for successor bodies to SACRE which would be known as Local Advisory Networks for Religion and Worldviews. They noted that only one group would be set aside for representatives from faith groups to be involved in, and this would be as part of a fifth group consisting of those who support RE in schools apart from the four groups of school leaders/governors, teachers, training providers and school providers. 

A member voiced the opinion that it was important that the Local Authority convene SACREs. The use of the word ‘Network’ in the proposed successor bodies sounded quite loose – and there was discontent with this among some members. They preferred bodies where the Local Authority would have the responsibility for convening them and they took a formal shape.

Members agreed that a letter should be drafted to the Secretary of State giving Camden SACRE’s views on the Commission for RE’s report. Shahanaz Begum and Mary Thorne agreed to work on it.

RESOLVED –

THAT a letter be sent to the Secretary of State for Education to inform him of Camden SACRE’s views on the Commission for RE’s report.

                                                            ACTION: Chair and Mary Thorne

To note and comment on the report by Charles Clarke and Linda Woodhead on Religion and Belief in Schools.

The Clarke-Woodhead report can also be seen online here:

http://faithdebates.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Clarke-Woodhead-A-New-Settlement-Revised.pdf? 

Consideration was given to the Clarke-Woodhead report on Religion and Belief in Schools.

Members noted that it was more focused on faith schools than community schools and ranged beyond SACRE’s remit.

Mary Thorne stated that it was important to note that C of E schools were more geographically based in their admissions criteria than other faith schools. They had historically served the community in the vicinity of their schools, although attendance at a nearby church was sometimes one of the admissions criteria which gave children priority.

RESOLVED –

THAT the report and the comments above be noted.

To consider potential items of business for future SACRE meetings.

There was a discussion about items to consider at future SACRE meetings. Members noted that there was a requirement to submit an annual report for the 2017-18 academic year. There would also be potential Determination applications coming in, and an ensuing need to visit schools.

It was suggested that a letter be written to schools regarding the Agreed Syllabus and asking what their views were of it, and if they would like more information and assistance with it.

                                                            ACTION: Chair and Owen Rees

The dates of future meetings of SACRE are:

·         Tuesday, 12^th March 2019

·         Thursday, 13^th June 2019

It was noted that the dates of future meetings of SACRE would be:

·         Tuesday, 12^th March 2019

·         Thursday, 13^th June 2019