Archived decisions

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

1. Summary

1.1 The full SACRE self-evaluation sub-group met for the first time on 10 January

1.2 The group decided to use the recently produced draft self-evaluation document produced by QCA, NASACRE and Ofsted as an updated guidance for self evaluation. The four categories for identifying quality of provision, in the document, are: developing, established, advanced and exemplary

1.3 The group reviewed Ofsted findings for attainment in RE at GCSE taken from the DfES website. The group concluded that the data available, when compared with that in the Hampshire SACRE Annual Report, was insufficient to arrive at conclusive findings to determine attainment in RE in Hampshire compared to Hampshire GCSE performance across all subjects and compared to national data. It was concluded that further research would have to be done to arrive at reliable findings in this respect

1.4 The group reviewed Ofsted comparative data on the quality of teaching and learning, taken from the statistical analysis provided to all LEAs (Appendix 1 , table 4.1.16). This compares Hampshire performance with its statistical neighbours and national performance. The statistics illustrate that Hampshire schools' performance in RE is significantly better than that of statistical neighbours and nationally across all key stages. However, at Key Stage 3 and 4, the Ofsted judgements on `very good' performance in Hampshire are significantly lower, in percentage terms, than those of both statistical neighbours and nationally. The group concluded that there was no evident reason for this discrepancy but that SACRE needed to monitor whether progress was achieved in this respect through the implementation of the new agreed syllabus. However, due to changes in the Ofsted inspection framework, this may need to be done on the basis of school self-evaluation or a new mechanism introduced by the LEA. See item below

2. The group reviewed SACRE's performance in Key Area 1: Standards and Quality of Provision of RE. This is broken down into 5 sub areas, a-e

2.1 The group reviewed SACRE's performance under sub area 1a, compliance and time allocation to RE. The group concluded that SACRE's performance was `exemplary'

2.2 The group reviewed SACRE's performance under sub area 1b, standards and achievement. The group concluded that SACRE's performance was `established' and that to become `advanced' SACRE needed to obtain data about RE in schools in the new climate of school self evaluation. The group also expressed anxieties in this respect due to:

a) concern over the credibility of the procedure of school and departmental self evaluation, by virtue of the fact that they are replacing trained inspectors in this area


b) the financial resource available to implement such a procedure for the collection of evidence, since this now becomes the responsibility of LEAs. It considered that, whilst centralised funding is made available for consultants, within LEAs, for core subjects the same financial support is not made available for RE. The group considered that appropriate finance needed to be made available in this respect

2.3 The group reviewed SACRE's performance under sub area 1c: quality of teaching, leadership and management. The group concluded that SACRE's performance was `exemplary'

2.4 The group reviewed SACRE's performance under sub area 1d: recruitment and retention issues and level of specialist provision. The group concluded that SACRE's performance was `exemplary'

2.5 The group reviewed SACRE's performance under sub area 1e: resources. The group concluded that SACRE's performance was `exemplary'

2.6 Overall, in this key area, the group concluded that SACRE's performance is `exemplary'

3 The group reviewed SACRE's performance in Key Area 2: Management of SACRE and Partnership with the LEA and other key stakeholders. This is broken down into 6 sub areas, a-f

3.1 The group reviewed SACRE's performance under sub area 2a: SACRE meetings. The group concluded that SACRE's performance was `advanced', with the reservation that SACRE should reconsider the venues for its meetings

3.2 The group reviewed SACRE's performance under sub area 2b: membership and training. The group concluded that SACRE's performance was `established' and that to improve to `advanced' a SACRE member be appointed to induct new members into the role and procedures of SACRE, and that an information pack be provided for new members

3.3 The group reviewed SACRE's performance under sub area 2c: improvement/development and planning. The group concluded that SACRE's performance was `established' and that to improve to `advanced' the development and implementation of the new agreed syllabus be explicitly identified and expressed within an action plan linked to the LEA's strategic development plan

3.4 The group reviewed SACRE's performance under sub area 2d: professional and financial support. The group concluded that SACRE's performance was `exemplary'. SACRE has always had sufficient budget for its needs. However, SACRE has now been asked to develop interfaith links for a youth faith forum and needs to seek matched funding for the project and its sustainability

3.5 The group reviewed SACRE's performance under sub area 2e: information and advice. The group concluded that SACREs performance was `exemplary'

3.6 The group reviewed SACRE's performance under sub area 2f: partnership with other key stakeholders. The group concluded that SACRE's performance was `established' and that to move to `advanced' SACRE should increase its partnership with key stakeholders; for example: Southampton Council of Faiths, parent governors and teachers by, initially, asking them to address SACRE meetings

4. Meetings to complete the self evaluation of SACRE

4.1 The sub group concluded by identifying two future meetings on 21 March and 28 April in order to review key areas 3-5 of the self evaluation and report back to SACRE on its findings

5. Evidence base for the self evaluation:

5.1 DfES website providing comparative statistical data for GCSE attainment

5.2 LEA held Ofsted comparative data on quality of provision in RE

5.3 Hampshire RE data on publications, courses and website

5.4 SACRE data from minutes of meetings of full SACRE, monitoring sub group and retention and recruitment sub group and annual report

Recommendations

1 That SACRE monitor the performance in teaching and learning within RE of Hampshire schools in relation to the `very good' category.

2 That SACRE ask the LEA to establish a procedure for schools to provide judgements on RE performance and provision at Key Stages 1,2 and 3.

3 That SACRE meet at different venues, including places of worship and schools, and arrange for speakers from different faiths and teachers to address those meetings.

4 That a SACRE member be appointed to induct new members into the role and procedures of SACRE, and that an information pack be provided for new members.

5 That SACRE ensure the development and implementation of the new agreed syllabus be explicitly identified and expressed within an action plan linked to the LEA's strategic development plan.

6 That SACRE seek matched funding to bid for an interfaith youth forum project and its sustainability.

7 That SACRE increase its partnership with key stakeholders; for example: Southampton Council of Faiths, parent governors and teachers by, initially, asking them to address SACRE meetings.

Background Papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report or an important 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.