Agenda and draft minutes

There were no declarations of interest

RESOLVED to confirm the minutes of the SACRE held on 4 July 2022

There were no matters arising from the minutes

Prior to the meeting members had received a copy of the Derbyshire and Derby City SACRE’s report 2022.

For those members who hadn’t been present at the previous meeting, Steve Ford gave a brief overview of what was contained within the report including the introduction from the Chairs of both SACREs and was also delighted to announce that RE Today Services had worked closely again with Derbyshire SACRE and for the first time Derby SACRE to produce the 2020-2025 Joint Derbyshire and Derby Agreed Syllabus. Comments made at that meeting had been taken into account and the minor amendments made.

It was anticipated that the document would be published and circulated to all schools in the county and city in the next few weeks

RESOLVED to note the report

Prior to the meeting members had received a copy of ‘Primary Subject Information : Religious Education 2022/2023’.

The document had been written to support Derbyshire link advisers to carry out a curriculum review of religious education and provide some background information where the link adviser was not a subject specialist

It was hoped that Headteachers may also find it helpful to share the information provided with their subject leaders.

RESOLVED to note the report

The Chairman opened by saying that he felt the Development Day had gone successfully and that the presentation and discussion on Journeys of Destiny had been well received. He also hoped that the event could become more SACRE member led in future years and encouraged members to come forward with areas of discussion for the day.

Steve Ford highlighted for those not present at the Development day  and last meeting that Fiona Moss RE Today had attended the meeting In conclusion, it was generally agreed that the future of SACRE’s was uncertain and that over the coming months Derbyshire and Derby City SACRE’s needed to continue discussions on what the way forward was and more detailed work be carried out in relation to succession planning though it was felt vitally important that someone with local knowledge was required to carry this forward with the ongoing support of RE Today Services.

Following discussions at the last meeting about how best to use the resource in schools, given the unlikelihood of extra funding being available to roll the production out through live performances in schools, Steve Ford had spoken with Ava Hunt.

It had been suggested to Ava that perhaps a way forward would be for her to make an educational pack including video to be available in schools and that teachers in schools would find creative ways to deliver that to students, which would be beneficial also in terms of providing CPD to colleagues. It was also felt that this would make an excellent transition project across Years 6 and 7. Discussion would continue

RESOLVED to note feedback and updates from the Development day

At the last meeting it had been agreed that clearer advice and guidance was required by schools in terms of Collective Worship and having discussed the good work being done by Sandwell Councill, contact had been made with Sandwell, and following that meeting Steve Ford had now asked RE today to cost a similar project that could be adapted for Derbyshire and Derby. This would then provide a valuable resource that could be piloted and the be disseminated more widely.

RESOLVED to note the update

Prior to the meeting members had received details of the future training proposals for Derbyshire and Derby SACREs 2022-23. These were contained in the SACRE Annual report and would be delivered to teachers in Derbyshire and Derby, through RE Today Services. The training programme would be initiated in 2023.

RESOLVED to note the update

A Howes had commented that OFTED were recognising the many schools that were not meeting the legal requirement for RE. She believed that the agreed syllabus was a bit ‘thin’ in guidance for KS4 and KS 5. Comments from Inspectors had suggested that 10 hours of RE at KS5 was ‘light touch’ and whilst the syllabus outlined the following of an accredited course and suggested hours there was little to support those not following an accredited course for a qualification.

It was agreed that this was an area that needed discussion and should be an agenda item for the next meeting in March