To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Educationmeeting held on 5 June 2019 and 6 November 2019.

The meeting was declared inquorate and it was agreed that the meeting would continue informally and recommendations would be put to SACRE Members at the next quorate meeting of SACRE, along with the minutes from the 9 January 2019, 4 June 2019 and 6 November 2019.

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no items of Urgent Business.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Associate Adviser for Religious Education presented the report to Members and in doing so outlined the report detailed the key national developments that impacted on Religious Education, and with this suggested actions for SACRE were discussed.

During discussions it was remarked the period since the last SACRE meeting, a number of developments had taken place such as the publication of guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) and a number of grant funded initiatives. These were presented to SACRE for consideration in support of the duties of SACRE and in accordance with the work plan.

SACRE discussed the appendix touching on the subject of Collective Worship within schools and how this was being incorporated with other subjects such as PSHE.

RESOLVED that SACRE:

1.         Review the information collected in Appendix 1

2.         Evaluate the relevance of each section for RE in Thurrock

3.         Consider the suggested actions

The Associate Adviser for Religious Education introduced the report explaining in July 2018, SACRE reviewed the documents then being used as the framework for school inspection. Since that time, a revised Ofsted framework and handbook had been published which places far more emphasis on curriculum design.

She continued to advice the report presented a sample of recent Ofsted reports that mentioned RE from around the country and suggested that SACRE considered their implications for Thurrock schools

Members discussed the importance of calling Ofsted out in relation to RE and the in-depth assessments which were now being carried out.

Discussions turned to the news that the new relationship policy would be being introduced to schools in September 2020 and schools would be working with parents before introducing to children at schools.

It was commented that parents may not be able to withdraw children from relationship education, however it was a time for open conversations to be had and the framework for schools was clear.

RESOLVED that SACRE:

1.         Discuss the references to RE in appendix and consider what advice it might offer to schools about the implications for the place of RE in the curriculum.

2.         Share this advice with school leaders through the Headteacher Briefing and Governors through training.

The Associate Adviser for Religious Education presented the Annual Report to members of SACRE for approval. She continued to advise that she had contacted the schools within the borough for information.

It was noted that the schools wanted to do better and it was part of the role of SACRE to help encourage the agreed syllabus and schemes of work to support teachers.

Members discussed and welcomed the report thanking the Associate Adviser for Religious Education for her hard work throughout the year for SACRE.

RESOLVED that SACRE:

1              Accepted this report as an accurate record of its work for the period September 2018 – July 2019;

2              Requested that the Assistant Director Education and Skills writes to all schools to remind them of their statutory duties/ contractual obligations to provide religious education to all pupils on the school roll;

3              Requested that the school effectiveness team include a review of schools’ provision for RE and Collective Worship as part of their annual conversations. Specifically, that they consider:

•               The impact on pupil outcomes of the combination of subjects such as RE, RSE, Citizenship and PSHE;

•               The impact on pupil attainment of pupils being entered for a GCSE at the end of year 10;

•               Whether or not the amount of time dedicated to RE on school timetables was sufficient for pupils to meet the aims of either the Thurrock Agreed Syllabus or, in the case of academy schools, either the Thurrock Agreed Syllabus or one that is ‘equally broad and ambitious’