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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Suite - County Hall

Contact: Gerry Rufolo 01392 382299  Email: gerry.rufolo@devon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

15.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2017, attached

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 7 June 2017 be signed as a correct record save for the deletion of the two duplicated paragraphs at the end of item 3.

16.

Items Requiring Urgent Attention

Items which in the opinion of the Chair should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.

Minutes:

There was no item raised as a matter of urgency.

17.

Devon SACRE Membership Update

Mr Pawson to report

Minutes:

Mr Pawson reported on Membership of the Committee as follows:-

 

Group A

 

K Chape (Baptist Representative) had stood down and should be removed from the list and C Singh (Sikh representative), having not been in attendance for some time, should also be removed.

 

Group B

 

Ms Ruth Ingrouille, Mr Alex Parkes and Ms Sandra Gill be welcomed and included; and E Pawson should not be included in this list.

 

Group C

 

There was at present no representation from Voice, but this was to be looked into.

 

Co-opted Members

 

P Fletcher would no longer be attending and should be removed from the list and also J Marshall, who had resigned.

 

It was recommended that Ms Belinda Twiggs, an RE teacher at St Michael’s Primary School in Kingsteignton, be considered as a Co-opted Members of the Committee.

 

It was MOVED by G Winnall, SECONDED by R Halsey and

 

RESOLVED that Belinda Twiggs be constituted as a Co-opted Member of the Committee.

18.

Holocaust Memorial Day 2018: Planning

Mr Pawson to report

Minutes:

Mr Pawson delivered a presentation on the Holocaust Memorial Day, themed ‘The Power of Words’, setting out the timetable of events.

 

On Saturday 27 January there would be a free Exhibition taking place at the Guildhall, Exeter during the day; and a Choral event in the evening at the Mint Church, Exeter with the Brent Singers performing a piece written by Buckfast Abbey’s Director of Music, Philip Arkwright, as well as a performance from the Cullompton Community Choir. 

 

On Monday 29 January, the Opening Ceremony would take place with the Lord Mayor of Exeter and representatives from Devon County Council, Exeter Cathedral, Devon SACRE and St Thomas School Choir, with various other events taking place during the day, including guided walks, film showings, talks, culminating with the Closing Ceremony at 3.30pm.  Mr Pawson asked that everyone encourage attendance.

 

On Thursday 1 February at Exeter Catedral in the evening, there would be a Recital and Survivor Talk by Anita Lasker-Wallfisch (one of the few surviving members of the Auschwitz) and Raphael Wallfisch (world-renowned cellist).  Booking was now open through the Exeter Cathedral website.  A retiring collection would be made on the night and the money raised would be for victims of genocide.

 

Mr Pawson was happy to report that fundraising so far had reached £5,747, out of a target figure of £6,160. Generous funding in part had come from Exeter City Council and Devon County Councillors’ locality budgets.  Funds were also hoped to be received from the Bad Homburg twinning appeal; and the Rougemont Hotel had kindly offered two rooms free of charge.

 

Mr Pawson asked that if anyone was interested in helping on the day to please contact him.

 

The Committee extended its thanks to Mr Pawson for all of his hard work and commitment in co-ordinating the event.

 

 

 

 

19.

Learn/Teach/Lead Religious Education (LTLRE): Conference and Hub Groups Update

Mr Pawson to report

Minutes:

Mr Pawson reported on the positive feedback following the 6th Annual LTLRE Conference in October.  The comments and suggestions received were circulated at the meeting and showed that the Conference had been a real success in having achieved its objectives.

 

Discussion points included:-

 

·         the possibility of moving the Conference date for next year and the need for additional funding as a result of the reducing Trust fund;

 

·         Linda Rudge had now completed her contract as Programme Director with LTLRE and the role was now taken on by hub leaders giving them opportunities for progressing into leadership roles; and

 

·         the usefulness of the hub sessions for after-school networking and utilising the local talent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20.

Interfaith focus: Interfaith Week 2017, Interfaith Conference 2018

Mr Roberts to report

Minutes:

Mr Roberts reported on the planning for the 2018 Conference where a date had been confirmed of Saturday 14 April 2018 at the Mint Church, Exeter.   The Bishop of Crediton (Sarah Mullally) had confirmed her attendance as Speaker.  It would be entitled ‘Keeping Body and Soul Together’ - an exploration of the place of spirituality in healthcare from different faith and belief perspectives.  Support was needed to provide all faith points of view, especially Hindu and Muslim faiths.

 

In discussion with Members, the following points were raised:

 

·         the educational angle and its particular relevance to Schools;

·         the significance of mental health issues; and

·         the suggestion of Jacqueline Watson, a Humanist and Researcher in Spirituality, as a contributor.

 

 

 

 

21.

Reviewing SACRE Documentation: Collective Worship and RE Agreed Syllabus pdf icon PDF 347 KB

Mr Pawson to report

Minutes:

Mr Pawson reported that the Devon SACRE publication Guidance on Collective Worship dated back to 2012 and was in need of updating.   This was seen as a good opportunity to raise the issue of active worship and to perhaps have a different editorial approach.  Volunteers for a working group were requested. 

 

RESOLVED that the working group be comprised of J Roberts, K Denby, Cllr E Brennan and W Harrison.

 

 

 

 

 

 

22.

National Developments pdf icon PDF 877 KB

Mr Pawson to report on:

 

(a) RE Commission interim report and consultation,   link below

 

http://www.commissiononre.org.uk/religious-education-for-all-commission-interim-report/

 

 

(b) NATRE State of the Nation Report, link below

 

https://www.natre.org.uk/uploads/Free%20Resources/SOTN%202017%20Report%20web%20version%20FINAL.pdf

Minutes:

(a)   Commission on Religious Education: Interim Report

 

Mr Pawson reported on the publication of the Commission’s interim report which presented an opportunity for as many people and organisations as possible to engage with the Commission around developing thoughts on RE in schools in England.  Its key recommendations were:

 

·         a national entitlement for Religious Education;

·         holding schools to account for their provision and quality of RE;

·         a renewed and expanded role for SACREs;

·         a national plan for improving teaching and learning in RE; and

·         exploring right to withdrawal.

 

Consultation was now open but was due to close on 1 December 2017.   The full document could be found at: http://www.commissiononre.org.uk/religious-education-for-all-commission-interim-report/.  

 

(b)   NATRE State of the Nation Report

 

The State of the Nation report looked at the extent to which schools in England met their statutory requirements to teach RE.  The report could be found at:

https://www.natre.org.uk/uploads/Free%20Resources/SOTN%202017%20Report%20web%20version%20FINAL.pdf

 

 

 

23.

Local Authorities Funding for SACRE pdf icon PDF 629 KB

Mr Pawson to report on paper attached

Minutes:

Mr Gooddy reported on the circulated paper which stated that the Minister for School Standards had made a commitment that SACREs and Agreed Syllabus Conferences would continue to be funded by central government once the Education Services Grant was abolished at the end of the 2016/17 financial year.

 

In discussion with Members, the followings points were raised:

 

·         that although funding had been reduced, additional monies had been received to support the Holocaust Day event following further challenge; and

·         a further meeting with Babcock to discuss increased funding for 2018/19.

 

It was RESOLVED that Mr Pawson would follow up on the first and last bullet points above.

 

24.

Zero Tolerance to Hate Crime

Ed Pawson to report

Minutes:

Mr Denby reported on the Zero Tolerance to Hate Crime Pledge and how schools should be encouraged to sign up to the Pledge.

 

The Pledge could be found at: https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/advice/threat-assault-abuse/hate-crime/sign-the-pledge/.

25.

LGBT + Tool Kit

Mr Pawson to report

Minutes:

Mr Denby reported on the newly published LGBT Toolkit which could be found at https://new.devon.gov.uk/equality/lgbttoolkit.  The Committee were encouraged to use the Toolkit to raise awareness.

 

 

 

 

26.

Planned CPD for Devon Schools

Mr Pawson to report

Minutes:

Mr Pawson report on the planned Babcock/LDP courses for Religious Education CPD as follows:

 

·         Introduction to Islam (KS2/3), 22 November, Exeter Islamic Centre, Exeter

·         Mahayana Buddhism (A Level), 6 December, Hartridge Buddhist Monastery, near Honiton;

·         Islam and Ethics (GCSE), 7 December, Exeter Islamic Centre, Exeter;

·         Leading RE in the Primary School, 1 March 2018, Tiverton Hotel, Tiverton; and

·         Secondary RE Subject Leaders Conference, early February 2018.

 

Further information on courses and bookings were available at: www.babcock-education.co.uk/ldp/courses/bookings/default.asp.

 

There would also be an Early Years Teachers Conference next June at the Tiverton Hotel and Mr Pawson undertook to circulate further details to Members.

 

27.

SW SACRE Conference Monday, 5 March 2018, Dillington House

Mr Pawson to report

Minutes:

Mr Pawson reported on the SW SACRE Conference on 5 March 2018 where funding was available for SACRE members to attend. 

 

It was RESOLVED that Ms B Twiggs, Ms P Hammett and Mr J Gooddy would attend the Conference.

28.

Dates of Future SACRE Meetings

Tuesday, 6 February 2018 (at the Exeter Mosque, subject to confirmation)

 

The morning meeting will be followed by lunch and an afternoon training session

 

Afternoon training (1.30-3.00pm):

The afternoon training session will explore the findings of the Commission on Religious Education Interim Report in detail, making a detailed response to the consultation.

 

Minutes:

Tuesday, 6 February 2018 at the Mosque Exeter (subject to confirmation) at 10.30 am

 

The County Council’s calendar of meetings can be found at

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1


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