Agenda item

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 revert to the statutory requirement for ‘broadly Christian’ collective worship. It was noted that the school made an effort to comply with the process, whereas there were other schools which did not have a Determination and which SACRE was not in a position to monitor to check they were adhering to the letter of the regulations.

Two Panels (B and D) voted to grant the Determination, and Panel A voted not to grant it. The application was therefore granted.

Rhyl Primary School

Members discussed the application from Rhyl Primary School. They noted that the full Governing Body minutes were included, rather than just the item that related to the Determination application.

Members praised their detailed policy document, and felt that the information that they provided was good and comprehensive. They said the school should be viewed as an exemplar.

The school’s old Determination would have expired in May 2021 and so, like for the other schools, the renewal would be backdated then.

The Committee agreed to grant Rhyl a Determination.

Regent High School

The Committee noted that Regent High had a Determination which expired in 2014, but for all practical terms it was a new application.

Ms Prior said that she had visited the school prior to the lockdown to discuss the process of applying for a Determination with the lead member of staff on this.

In discussion, it was noted that it was difficult for large secondary schools to gather all pupils together for an assembly. As such, collective worship should be delivered by giving pupils a chance for reflection on religious, moral and social topics in their tutor groups.

The Committee agreed to grant a Determination.

Brecknock Primary School

There was a discussion on the application from Brecknock. Owen Rees informed members that the school shared the same Executive Head as Torriano. Members noted the similarity between the two schools’ submissions and had similar concerns about Brecknock’s as they had with Torriano’s.

Members agreed to grant the Determination and said they would like to visit the school before the October half-term.

RESOLVED –

(i)             THAT Determinations be granted to Primrose Hill, Torriano, Rhyl, Regent High and Brecknock Schools;

(ii)            THAT the schools be written to in order to inform them of the views and concerns raised by SACRE.