Archived decisions

Contact: Clive Erricker - County Inspector - RE (02392 441459)

1. Summary

1.1 On 9 December 2004 the Chair of SACRE attended a conference on National Developments and the work of SACREs.

1.2 The first issue discussed was the role of the new non-statutory National Framework in relation to the future possibility of a National Curriculum for RE and the review of locally agreed syllabuses for religious education. Ofsted's chief inspector for RE spoke in favour of the new framework being the basis for a future national curriculum. The Chair of NASACRE spoke in favour of using the national framework to help shape the review of locally agreed syllabuses rather than adopting the new framework as the locally agreed syllabus.

1.3 The second issue discussed was how SACREs should respond to the new Ofsted inspection framework in relation to monitoring religious education. The Ofsted advice given was that monitoring could be carried out by SACREs through school self-evaluation.

1.4 The third issue discussed was the lack of provision for RE in the 16-19 phase of education. Nationally, very few colleges include RS/RE as a substantive subject. QCA is addressing this issue and the Chair of SACRE has been asked to attend a meeting in March 2005.

Recommendation

That SACRE notes the report and consider the feasibility of monitoring RE through school self-evaluation.

Background Papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an informal part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB: The list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act

3. OFSTED inspection reports on Hampshire schools.