Agenda and minutes

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair announced: ‘In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for six months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to having your contributions recorded and broadcast, including video when switched on, and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.’

Apologies for absence were received from Philip Graham, Sophie Fegan, Councillor Nasim Ali, Luke Browne, Councillor Abdul Quadir and Krishna Pujara.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th February 2021.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the SACRE meeting held on 4^th February 2021.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 4^th February 2021 be approved as a correct record.

To note the membership of Camden SACRE.

Consideration was given to the list of members of Camden SACRE.

It was noted that the C of E places had all been filled, and that a new teacher member had joined Panel C.

It was noted that the Council had changed its representation on SACRE at its Annual Meeting in May. Councillor Jonathan Simpson was welcomed as a new member of SACRE.

RESOLVED –

THAT the Camden SACRE membership list be noted.

To consider applications for Determinations from:

·         Primrose Hill Primary School (p. 21- 32)

·         Torriano Primary School (p. 33-41)

·         Rhyl Primary School (p.43-67)

·         Regent High School (p.69-87)

·         Brecknock Primary School (p.89-94)

Consideration was given to the applications for Determinations received from Primrose Hill, Torriano, Rhyl, Regent High and Brecknock Schools.

The Professional Advisor, Lesley Prior, explained to members that under the relevant legislation schools had to apply to their local SACRE for a Determination which exempted them from the requirement for daily collective worship in school to be of a broadly Christian character. That Determination lasted for five years.

Due to the pandemic, schools had been granted an extension to their existing Determinations, but they had to re-apply as soon as feasible. This was why there were a large number of applications for this meeting, compared to previous ones. The award of a new Determination to a school which had one which would have expired during the pandemic would be backdated to when the previous one expired.

She said that SACRE normally tried to visit schools as part of the Determination application process, but this had not been possible due to the pandemic.

Primrose Hill School

There was a discussion about the Primrose Hill application. It was a backdated application, as its previous Determination would have ended in October 2020.

Members noted that the form said the chairs of committees had been consulted, not the whole governing body.

Councillor Simpson asked about how anti-bullying week tied in with tackling discrimination against LGBT people. The Chair said that schools would be introducing the topic of respect for difference and respect for LGBT people at an age-appropriate level for children. Owen Rees said he could put members who had queries in contact with Gill Morris, who was the officer leading on this topic in Camden.

Ms Prior said that she had visited the school about five years ago, when they had submitted their previous Determination application, and witnessed an assembly. She had been impressed with it, and with the song that the children had sung about supporting refugees.

Members agreed the Determination.

Torriano Primary School

There was a discussion about the Torriano application. It was a backdated application, as its previous Determination would have come to an end in June 2020. The school had been formed from the merger of infant and junior schools to form Torriano Primary.

Members expressed concern at the lack of information about assemblies in the submission from the school. The school needed to be aware that collective worship should be daily.

Members noted a lack of religious literacy in one of the documents the school had submitted, where it listed different denominations of Christianity as religions.

There was a desire among members to visit the school as soon as practical, although it was noted that this might be difficult given the other commitments members had.

Some members were of the view that the Determination application should be refused. Other members were of the view that it should be agreed, and that the school should be supported by SACRE and the LA to improve its approach to collective worship, rather than rejecting it and asking the school to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider a collective worship policy guidance document based on one from LB Hounslow.

Consideration was given to a report of the Professional Advisor.

Members noted the document from Hounslow and said it would be useful to Heads and others planning collective worship. Owen Rees said he could circulate it to Heads.

                                                   ACTION: Owen Rees (Camden Learning)

RESOLVED –

(i)             THAT the guidance be noted;

(ii)            THAT the guidance be circulated to Headteachers.

To consider updates from the Chair.

The Chair updated members on her actions in her role. She had met with Jon Abbey (the Director of Camden Learning) to discuss raising the profile of RE. She and the Professional Advisor would attend the Heads’ meeting to do so. An RE Network would be established for community schools.

Ms Thorne said that the SACRE’s RE working group would meet on 1^st July.

She reported back on the NASACRE conference and referred members to the report from Sukaina Manji in the agenda pack. She said she had enjoyed the workshop sessions at the conference, and said there was good practice from some local authorities (like South Gloucestershire) which was recognised.

RESOLVED –

THAT the Chair’s update be noted.

To consider updates from the Professional Advisor to SACRE.

Members are asked to give consideration to this Ofsted paper on RE:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/research-review-series-religious-education/research-review-series-religious-education

The Professional Advisor to SACRE, Lesley Prior, referred members to the recent OFSTED report on RE. She said the report focussed on types of knowledge in RE and the feature of high-quality RE. She welcomed the focus on the subject, which had historically often been neglected by OFSTED.

She also informed members of her community primary school newsletter, which had been sent to members by the Clerk.

RESOLVED –

THAT the Professional Advisor’s report be noted.

SACRE is asked to consider the self-evaluation framework.

This item was not considered.

There was no other business.