Agenda item

To receive a report on behalf of the Director of Children’s Services updating SACRE on the activities of the monitoring group.

SACRE received a report from Patricia Hannam, County Inspector for History, Philosophy and RE, and Justine Ball, General Inspector and Adviser for Primary RE, on the activities of the Monitoring Group (item 7 in the Minute Book).

The Inspector/Advisers advised Members that the 3-year Action Plan and the Withdrawal Survey had been delayed due to uncertainties relating to Covid-19.  SACRE Members were asked to agree to their deferral to a later date.

Members’ attention was drawn to the wide range of courses and network meetings, listed in the report, that had been run for both primary and secondary teachers, school leaders and governors since the last SACRE meeting in November. It was noted that these had been very successful with good attendance, probably more than usual because they had been held online and were more readily accessible. Short webinars had been run for primary teachers to improve subject knowledge and for secondary teachers on Holocaust education with Winchester University.

It was commented that there had been an unexpected advantage to the difficulties of teaching during the pandemic, in that more teachers have accessed courses, possibly due to them being virtual which has been a more efficient use of their time with not having to travel after school to meetings.  It was suggested that SACRE should investigate whether hybrid meetings could or should be the way forward once everything is back to normal.

Primary monitoring had been done virtually with the focus being on advice and support on planning  with the cycle of enquiry and improving the quality of work. 

Patricia Hannam expressed her concern at the Hampshire GCSE data for the RS 2020 examinations. Her concerns were about the low numbers of pupils accessing full course Religious Studies and what Key Stage 4 RE provision was being made for those not taking the GCSE.  She did note that some schools provided good quality non-examination courses.  It was requested that SACRE’s concerns about the declining numbers should be made to HIAS.

 Members were updated on the progress of the review of the Agreed Syllabus, which would be Living Difference IV.  The review will be thorough and reflective, but not a total rewrite.  It will respond to national issues and remain on the cutting edge of Religious Education in schools.  Early Years, special educational needs, progression and assessment are all being tackled, particularly in the light of national changes.  Meetings with faith experts and a teachers’ focus group have been well attended. SACRE Members would be welcome to attend future focus group meetings. One of the most important decisions to be made will be to what extent the revised Agreed Syllabus will acknowledge the current discussions about Worldviews and RE.

RESOLVED:

1.    SACRE agreed that a draft of the 3 Year Action Plan 2021-2024 would be brought to the June SACRE meeting.

2.    SACRE approved that the Annual Withdrawal Survey should take place in the summer term 2021.

3.    SACRE asked Patricia Hannam, the professional adviser to take up the declining number of GCSE RE entries with HIAS.

4.    SACRE asked that the practicality of hybrid meetings and conferences in the future should be investigated.

5.    SACRE noted the remainder of the Monitoring Group report.