Agenda and minutes

To note the resignation of Mrs M McDowall -Group 1 Roman Catholic and Miss S Shaw – Group 2 Canterbury Diocese

The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to the following addition to Minute 12.2 training specifically being recorded as an Early Years Foundation Stage Course.

Mr Foster reported the achieved budget spend had been more realistic for the current financial year at 81% and it was intended the trend would continue.  He reminded members to submit all expense claims promptly.

25.1    The date of the second Youth SACRE meeting was announced as Tuesday 18 November 2014 in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Maidstone.

25.2    Mr Foster advised this was Interfaith week.

25.3    Mrs Grant would take the lead, supported by Mrs Younosi and Mrs Corbyn would secure Lat Blaylock from RE Today, as guest Speaker.

25.4    Members extended their thanks to Mr Tyson for leading the very successful inaugural meeting.

26.1    Mrs Martin advised she had attempted to produce a Plan based on members instructions.

26.2    Page 11

There was much debate about the difficulty of accessing the Agreed Syllabus and SACRE documents which were previously online, but had been deleted from kenttrustweb. Mr Foster requested that any members with electronic versions of supporting resources forward them to him as he was having issues locating some documents.

26.3    Mr Foster confirmed that Mr Gough (Cabinet member) was fully aware and Mr Northey agreed to maintain the pressure to get the situation rectified.

Mrs Martin asked for permission to add the SACRE documents to both the Rochester and Canterbury Diocesan websites, plus CCCU and this was unanimously agreed.

26.4    Mr Gillespie reported he had 230 students all wanting to access the Syllabus and Mr Foster suggested the KELSI web address: http://www.kelsi.org.uk/curriculum_and_pupil_learning/curriculum/re.aspx 

26.5    Further debate ensued about the best frequency for sampling of schools.  Mrs Corbyn and Mrs Martin offered to establish the details of VA schools in their patch, to contribute to a written report detailing whether specific schools were engaging or not.

26.6    Mr Foster confirmed the Annual Report contained his findings and he would not want to “name and shame”.

26.7    Mr Foster requested Members email him suggested questions to be included in the survey before the next meeting. Mrs Walters suggested the following questions be included:-

·         Does your school have a named RE Co-ordinator?

·         Does the RE Co-ordinator have a regular slot for RE issues in Staff Meetings and/or on the CPD calendar?

·         Does your school have a copy of the latest Kent Agreed Syllabus, if so is a paper copy or online?

·         Are staff aware of the location of the Agreed Syllabus?

·         How is long term planning for RE created?

·         Do staff work from a common lesson plan for RE?

·         Does RE have dedicated curriculum time? In what format for Early Years/KS1 and KS2?

·         Do all classroom teachers teach RE? If not who else staffs RE?

·         How is RE assessed and recorded as evidence of pupil achievement?

·         Does RE have a resource budget?

·         Mrs Walters offered to provide a presentation to Members about how she deals with SMSC/Collective Worship in teacher training.

26.8    The Chairman suggested Mr Foster undertake 1 survey per year, from 3 or 4 areas, under his own time frame and record his findings in the Annual Report.

26.9    Mr Maddison suggested all County members be furnished with a copy of the Survey and requested to consult any Governing bodies they were associated with.

26.10  Mr Foster agreed to give verbal interim feedback in November and complete feedback in March 2015.

26.11  Page 12

Mr Foster was concerned about how to market high quality CPD in a non responsive market. The free Diocesan CPD event had faired better with 63 attendees. Mrs Corbyn was hopeful it may be possible to offer a couple of future events -one on RE, one on CW, if costs were cut to the bone, there was no  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

27.1    Members noted the current position and were advised work was continuing in regard to filling any vacancies.

27.2    It was noted co-opted members were no longer recorded, as being Non- voting members their attendance did not contribute towards the meeting being shown to be quorate.

28.1    Mr  Foster reported on the following:-

·         BBC Radio Kent Interview 10.1.14 - Future of RE in Kent schools. Issues raised included Academies programme, changes to GCSE & A Level exams, introduction of new National Curriculum & RE’s position, plight of lack of RE specialist teachers in schools.

·         Meeting with Roger Gough – KCC Cabinet Member for Education 16.1.14.

·         Present – Roger Gough, Simon Webb (senior School Improvement Adviser) for Sue Rogers, Steve Manion – Chair SACRE, Nicky Younosi – Vice Chair, Michael Northey, Richard Tyson, Allan Foster.

·         Agenda items – RE in Kent schools, Future of Youth SACRE & ELS involvement, SACRE’s interaction with Education Cabinet Committee

·         AF updated on recent SACRE Annual Report, Ofsted report and RE Review & issues raised and how these are concerns in Kent. Also raised concerns about removal of Syllabus and support materials from Kenttrustweb.

·         ELS to support with HT briefings to promote responsibilities for RE – AF to provide briefing paper to SW

·         Survey via Governors if required – AF to speak to Linda Lissimore

·         Youth SACRE – discussion re annual event in autumn – NY suggested that KCC might provide additional funding for this – RT rejected this idea on grounds that initial event had not required funding. AF suggested that a business case for additional funding could be made if appropriate.

·         RG indicated he would like to be kept involved with SACRE developments – perhaps by attending Briefing meetings, or a future meeting – invited to November meeting. Annual report to be agenda item at future Education Cabinet Committee meeting.

·         Following this meeting suggestion that RG be asked to write to Michael Gove raising Kent’s concerns. Letter prepared and sent to SM & NY to send to RG  on 8.2.14

• Mr Maddison commented he would have liked to have had sight of the letter in order to secure All party support.
• Freedom of Information requests – 1. 30.12.13. Collective Worship exemptions (Mail on Sunday) – nil determinations. 2. 28.1.14. Access to Syllabus (Canterbury Christchurch student) – CD-Rom prepared and provided
• KESLI web page development –http://www.kelsi.org.uk/curriculum_and_pupil_learning/curriculum/re.aspx  Original web pages removed and documents deleted. Some confusion within ELS over documents on SACRE pages of Kent.gov.uk. Replacement copies of Syllabus, non-statutory Guidance, Shaping the Spirit, Gathering Together, Sikhism Transition Unit booklet, & DCFS Guidance to Schools. Currently only Non-statutory Guidance & DCFS on KELSI. Syllabus (statutory doc) linked to Kent.gov.uk.  Support documents for Sikhism, SMSC & CAW will need updating and removal of ASK logos and links. Discussions are ongoing.
• CPD event for EYFS  - report to follow
• CPD event for Primary non-specialist teachers 24.2.14 10 attended, led by Liz Pope. V Good feedback. Two other events cancelled due to low numbers.
• Westhill Awards 2014 – theme Education into Diversity – generating compelling learning experiences in RE for young people relevant to today’s context. Applications closed in March and Members were requested to email Mr Foster any theme suggestions for a Kent bid.
• Very recent invitation via NASACRE for teacher representatives to join the new Expert Advisory  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

The clerk would register Mr Manion and Mrs Younosi for attendance at the AGM.

30.1    Mr Foster had provided the link to the REC launch of the RE curriculum review document;http://resubjectreview.recouncil.org.uk/re-review-report

He considered the recommendations a good fit with the Agreed syllabus.

It was likely the topic would be discussed at the forth coming NASACRE AGM and there was a briefing paper on their website which he urged members to read.

30.2    The REC Review currently had no status, it was the period before decisions were made and members should acquaint themselves with the issues.  Mr Maddison commented it was helpful to note the aims on page 15 and felt it was an opportunity to embrace commonalities and good practice.

30.3    Mr Foster stated the review should be considered in the light of the national picture and any future review of the Kent syllabus. Mrs Walters concurred with this view. Mrs Corbyn advised caution, as she was aware that there were ongoing discussions.

31.1    SACRE

June 2014-St.Martins Church, Great Mongeham,Deal

(Mr Manion later confirmed date as Wed.25 June 2014)

Tues.25 November 2014-Darent,County Hall, Maidstone

31.2    Briefings at Oakwood House, Maidstone

Mon 12 May 2014

Mon.13 Oct.2014

31.3    All meetings commence at 9.30am

31.4    Youth SACRE

PM, Tues.25 November 2014-Guest speaker - Lat Blaylock

32.1    Mrs Martin and Mrs Corbyn were thanked for running a very successful EYFS/CPD event. It was agreed Mr Manion and Mrs Younosi would write on SACRE’s behalf to thank the speakers and the Clerk would furnish them with the necessary information to do this.

32.2    It was agreed the Clerk would email members with the slides of the presentation.