Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Dr Lynndy Levin, Sophie Fegan, Felicity Djerehe, Stephanie Ellner, Rev Damian Mason, Councillor Izzy Lenga, Councillor Sylvia McNamara, Councillor Jenny Mulholland, and Councillor Jenny Headlam-Wells.

Broadcasting of meeting

In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, this meeting is being recorded and broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for six months after the meeting. After that time, recordings are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you address the meeting, you are deemed to consent 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.

Broadcasting of meeting

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

If you address the meeting, you are deemed to consent 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.”

The Professional Advisor, Claire Clinton, declared that she was employed by Newham. She thus withdrew from the meeting for Item 7, when a decision was being made on whether to adopt the Newham syllabus.

To approve the minutes of the 9^th May 2023 Agreed Syllabus Conference meeting.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th May 2023.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th May 2023 be approved and signed as a correct record.

To consider the results of the school survey.

Consideration was given to the results of the school survey.

It was noted that there had been a relatively small number (6) of responses. From the responses, there were mixed views about the current agreed syllabus. One respondent felt that it was not suited to Key Stage 3. There was also a view that it was too “skill-based” and not “knowledge-based” enough.

RESOLVED –

THAT the results of the survey be noted.

To consider a presentation on Newham’s agreed syllabus.

The Professional Advisor delivered a presentation on the Newham agreed syllabus.

The key points in the presentation were:

·       The syllabus was inclusive and provided information about a wide range of religions and beliefs in the borough.

·       There were 80+ individual schemes of work which covered all age groups from early years to Key Stage 3.

·       The syllabus covered philosophy and ethics questions.

RESOLVED –

THAT the presentation be noted.

To make a decision on the approach to be taken to Camden’s agreed syllabus.

Members discussed whether to recommend adoption of the Newham syllabus, renew the Hampshire one or whether to postpone the decision.

Although the view was expressed that delaying the decision could mean that more responses could be received from the school survey, the majority of members agreed that they had enough information to make a decision.

The meeting agreed to recommend adoption of the Newham syllabus as they felt that it was better suited for a diverse borough such as Camden and provided more material for teachers at Key Stage 3. One teacher noted that one disadvantage of the switch was that some of the preparatory work teachers had undertaken based on the material in the Hampshire syllabus would have to be re-done. 

Under the commission from Camden Council, the procurement of the preferred agreed syllabus would be undertaken by Camden Learning Ltd.

RESOLVED –

THAT the Agreed Syllabus Conference recommend adoption of the Newham syllabus.

There was no other business.