Agenda and minutes

Venue: MS Teams

Contact: Shelley Humphries  Tel: 01902 554070 email:  shelley.humphries@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome and Introductions

2.

Apologies

Minutes:

Apologies were received from members Reverend Nick Watson and Reverend Stephen Jackson.

 

Lynsay Jennings attended as a representative of the Church of England for Reverend Nick Watson.

 

Emma Bennett also submitted apologies.

3.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 324 KB

[To approve the minutes of the meeting of 10 December 2020 as a correct record.]

Minutes:

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of 10 December 2020 be approved as a correct record.

4.

Matters Arising

[To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2020.]

Minutes:

There were no matters arising from the minutes of the meeting of 10 December 2020.

5.

Agreed Syllabus Conference

[To vote on the Wolverhampton 2021-2026 Agreed RE Syllabus and Scheme of Work.]

Minutes:

Lat Blaylock, RE Today led the Agreed Syllabus Conference and delivered a supporting presentation which included an outline of amendments made to the draft since the last meeting of SACRE. Members were invited to table any further amendments if required and these would be added.

 

It was noted that a consultation process had been undertaken engaging with teachers, faith leaders and other stakeholders. The voting procedure was outlined and any further comments were invited.

 

It was acknowledged that RE was for everyone and included those without a faith or religion as the subject also incorporated exploring beliefs of all kinds. It was stated that the new syllabus included resources to support all teachers in delivering quality RE and even cover religions they were unfamiliar with.

 

It was stated that the syllabus was excellent and the question format for each unit was particularly interesting. It was queried whether there would be any resources to support this format for teachers coming across any unfamiliar faith subjects and it was noted that there were plans to revise the accompanying Scheme of Work to include these resources.

 

Sincere thanks were expressed to Laura Jude and Lat Blaylock for leading on the work on the refreshed RE Syllabus and this was extended to all who had contributed as well.

 

The final draft of the RE Syllabus was commended and it was voted upon whether to proceed in publishing and adopting the Syllabus. Following this vote, it was unanimously agreed by all members present that the Wolverhampton 2021 – 2026 RE Syllabus be published and adopted.

 

Resolved:

That the Wolverhampton 2021 – 2026 RE Syllabus be agreed and adopted.

6.

Locally Agreed Syllabus Launch Update

[To receive a verbal update on the Locally Agreed Syllabus Launch.]

Minutes:

It was noted that the Agreed Syllabus Conference had ceased and the group was now meeting as City of Wolverhampton SACRE.

 

Laura Jude, Representative of City of Wolverhampton Council reported that a soft virtual launch had been planned for June 2021 with a focus on continuing professional development (CPD) and how to support teachers in utilising the Syllabus. The intention was to then follow this up with a face to face launch event planned for September 2021. It was also acknowledged that training for schools was important to accompany the new RE Syllabus and this would be the next area of focus.

 

Resolved:

That the Locally Agreed Syllabus Launch Update be received.

7.

Service Level Agreement 2021-2022 Update

[To receive a verbal update on the Service Level Agreement 2021-2022.]

Minutes:

Laura Jude, Representative of City of Wolverhampton Council provided a verbal update on the Service Level Agreement 2021 - 2022. It was noted that it had been agreed at the last meeting that additional funding be explored to support the Service Level Agreement 2021 – 2022. It was reported that the work planned was ambitious however funding had been secured for extra units to be incorporated and a further update would be provided at the next meeting.

 

Resolved:

  1. That the Service Level Agreement 2021 – 2022 Update be received.

2.    That a further update on the Service Level Agreement 2021 – 2022 would be provided at the next meeting of SACRE.

8.

Report from Religious Education (RE) Today pdf icon PDF 192 KB

[To receive an update report from RE Today.]

Minutes:

Lat Blaylock, RE Today presented the report from RE Today and highlighted salient points.

 

Particular attention was drawn to the Review of Engagement between faiths and local governments was highlighted which sought to improve the current level. This was welcomed as support from central government would be hugely beneficial for SACREs throughout the country. It was hoped that the Department for Education would take an active role in this engagement process.

 

The REConnecting Lincolnshire project was highlighted which had produced some excellent resources outlining diversity in faiths which were freely available to all schools and contact details were provided within the report.

 

An item not in the report was raised outlining funding available from the Westhill Trust to members of NASACRE and it was reported that there were around six awards of £4,000 that could be available to SACREs to back an RE related project.

 

It was queried whether bids had ever been submitted historically however it was thought the Authority had not applied in the last five years therefore SACRE members were invited to put forward any suggestions for a possible project.

 

It was suggested that there had been an appetite for a network to be established for teachers and pupils to share best practice and discuss resources for the Scheme of Work. It was also thought that engagement of this kind could further support the improvement of RE uptake in secondary schools. It was agreed that Laura Jude, Representative of City of Wolverhampton Council would explore how to take this forward with Lat Blaylock’s support and report back to SACRE.

 

Resolved:

That Laura Jude, Representative of City of Wolverhampton Council would explore funding bids for a network project and provide an update at the next meeting of SACRE.

9.

Secondary Education

[To discuss RE provision for Secondary Education.]

Minutes:

Laura Jude, Representative of City of Wolverhampton Council provided a verbal update and advised that pupils had returned to school as part of the first phase of leaving lockdown which had been helpful. It was noted that the funding and the development of the new Scheme of Work to support secondary colleagues would be beneficial in improving RE delivered and it was again noted that the refreshed Scheme of Work included areas aimed in bolstering support to secondary school colleagues particularly for non-specialists in the subject. There was also an additional focus on facilitating young people in moving on to gaining qualifications in RE in further or higher education.

 

Resolved:

That the Secondary Education update be received.

10.

Local Authority Updates

[To receive an update from the Local Authority.]

Minutes:

It was noted that agenda items had covered all areas and there were no further updates.

11.

Ofsted Findings During the Last Quarter

[To receive an update on Ofsted findings during the last quarter.]

Minutes:

There had been no visits undertaken since the last meeting of SACRE.

12.

Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMS) and Inspection 48 Findings During the Last Quarter

[To receive an update on findings from SIAMS and Inspection 48 Visits.]

Minutes:

There had been no visits undertaken since the last meeting of SACRE.

13.

Dates of further meetings

[The next meeting is scheduled for 20 May 2021.

 

The proposed dates for the remainder of 2021 – 2022 are:

 

·       7 October 2021

·       10 March 2022

·       19 May 2022.]

 

Minutes:

Dates of Further Scheduled Meetings:

 

20 May 2021

 

Proposed Dates for 2021 – 2022:

 

  • 7 October 2021
  • 10 March 2022

·       19 May 2022

14.

Any other business

Minutes:

There was no other business.