Agenda and minutes

There were no announcements.

Apologies were received from Shahanaz Begum and Krishna Pujara.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 29^th October 2019.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 29^th October 2019.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the 29^th October 2019 meeting be approved as a correct record.

To note the membership of SACRE.

Consideration was given to a report on the membership of SACRE.

As requested at the last meeting, infrequently attending members had been contacted to ask if they wished to continue as a member of SACRE. The Hindu representative (Krishna Pujara) had said that she did, whereas the Buddhist representative had not replied and Humanist representative had indicated that he wished to stand down. The membership list of Panel A had been amended accordingly.

It was suggested that the constitution of SACRE be reviewed, with particular regard to the composition of the body. It was agreed that this be an agenda item at the next meeting of Camden SACRE.

RESOLVED –

(i)            THAT the report and comments above be noted;

(ii)          THAT the constitution/terms of reference for Camden SACRE come to the next meeting for discussion.

To consider the list of schools with Determinations and any new applications.

Consideration was given to the list of schools with Determinations and to Ann Boater’s report on the SACRE visit to Gospel Oak School.

The Professional Advisor, Lesley Prior, said that she had been in communication with Regent High and visited the school to talk to the lead staff member on RE there. She would liaise further with them to encourage them to submit an application for a Determination, which was the school’s intention.

                                                            ACTION: Professional Advisor to SACRE

It was noted that Torriano Primary and Hampstead School’s Determinations would be expiring in the summer of 2020. The Clerk would write to them to inform them of the pending expiry of the Determination and the need to re-apply if they wanted it to continue.

                                                            ACTION: Clerk to SACRE

RESOLVED –

(i)            THAT the report be noted;

(ii)          THAT Regent High be contacted to follow up their intention to apply for a Determination

(iii)         THAT Torriano and Hampstead Schools be contacted about the pending expiry of their Determinations and the requirement to re-apply if they wished them to continue.

To consider an oral report from the Chair and the Professional Advisor on their meeting with Camden Learning.

The Professional Advisor reported that she and the Chair had met with Jon Abbey and Owen Rees from Camden Learning.

The focus had been on building stronger links with teachers and schools. Camden Learning had informed them that the primary and secondary RE networks would be meeting for one meeting in the spring and in the summer terms, which Ms Prior as the Professional Advisor to SACRE would try to attend. Mr Rees added that the RE networks formed part of a traded service that schools bought from Camden Learning.

Mr Rees reported that Camden Learning had standards meetings with each school and part of that process was asking them how they taught RE and explaining the requirement for collective worship. Mary Thorne added that OFSTED had taken a greater interest in RE in some inspections and was undertaking what they called a ‘deep dive’ into RE in those schools.

There was a suggestion that SACRE members could look at school websites to check that they were up-to-date on RE and collective worship matters. Mr Rees agreed to supply the SACRE with a list of schools and the dates of their last Ofsted inspection.

                                                                        ACTION: Camden Learning

RESOLVED –

THAT the verbal report be noted.

To consider Ramadan guidance to be sent to Camden schools.

Consideration was given to the Ramadan guidance.

Members agreed the guidance and Owen Rees said that it would be circulated to schools.

                                                            ACTION: Camden Learning

RESOLVED –

THAT the Ramadan guidance be agreed and circulated to schools.

To consider the draft annual report for Camden SACRE for 2018-19.

Consideration was given to the draft annual report.

It was noted that the foreword and the GCSE results would need to be added to it. Members agreed the report and noted that the final version would be subject to these additions and any other necessary amendments.

The Professional Adviser said she would circulate the 2019 GCSE data and analysis of it to SACRE members.

ACTION: Professional Advisor

RESOLVED –

THAT the draft report be agreed, subject to amendments detailed above.

To consider the self-evaluation form and how Camden SACRE fits within that framework.

Consideration was given to the SACRE self-evaluation framework.

Mr Rees asked that members write to him, Lesley Prior and the Chair with their views about where Camden SACRE stood in relation to the self-evaluation framework (SEF). Once these had been received, they would endeavour to come back to the next SACRE meeting with a completed self-evaluation, which would enable a discussion on future development and completion of the action plan.

                                                                        ACTION: ALL

RESOLVED –

(i)         THAT the Professional Advisor and Mr Rees would write to members seeking their views on the SEF.

(ii)        THAT a completed SEF based on responses received and ideas for future development come to the next SACRE meeting.

ACTION: Chair, Professional Advisor and Camden Learning

To consider updates from the Professional Advisor to SACRE.

Ms Prior reported that the Hampshire syllabus, which was the parent one for Camden’s and for a number of other London boroughs, was coming up for review. Following the review, the amended Hampshire syllabus might be one that the SACRE would have regard to when it next undertook its statutory agreed syllabus review.

She said that a short, 2-page, summary of the syllabus would be helpful for schools – particularly in the run-up to inspections. She agreed to liaise with Hampshire about whether such a summary was already available.

                                                            ACTION: Professional Advisor

Members were asked to note the extracts from OFSTED inspections of RE in the NATRE / NASACRE paper in the agenda pack.

RESOLVED –

THAT the update be noted.

Members expressed their sympathy with the Jewish community in light of the recent graffiti attacks on Jewish communal premises.

Lynndy Levin announced that South Hampstead Synagogue would be having a week of events (from 26 to 30 January) to commemorate the Holocaust, and invited SACRE members to attend. Further details could be seen online at www.southhampstead.org

The date of the next meeting will be:

·         Monday 20^th April 2020

It was noted that the next meeting would be on Monday, 20^th April 2020.

Members were informed that potential meeting dates for 2020-21 would be circulated later this academic year.

                                                                        ACTION: Clerk to SACRE