Archived decisions

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

1. Summary

1.1 This report summarises the activity of the SACRE self-evaluation sub-groups findings and its recommendations to SACRE.

1.2 This paper supports Aim 1 of the Corporate Strategy (maximising life opportunities) through the scrutiny of SACRE's activity in monitoring the provision for religious education and collective worship.

2 Background

2.1 The SACRE self-evaluation sub-group met on 13 June 2005 to draft recommendations to SACRE that would form the basis of a SACRE development plan. The recommendations are categorised under headings relating to the three main areas of SACREs activity: religious education, collective worship, inclusion and diversity.

2.2 Religious Education. Four recommendations are made to SACRE, identified under recommendations 1-4 below.

2.3 Collective Worship. One recommendation is made to SACRE, identified under recommendation 5 below.

2.4 Inclusion and Diversity. Four recommendations are made to SACRE, identified under recommendations 6-10 below.

2.5 The recommendations were given an order of priority of high, fairly high or not high priority, as indicated.

Recommendations

1. SACRE ask the local authority to present an action plan for the development of religious education through the implementation of the new agreed syllabus, and that this development be monitored and evaluated (high priority)

2. SACRE ask the local authority for financial support in order to monitor and evaluate the impact of the new agreed syllabus (high priority)

3. SACRE ask the local authority to establish a procedure for schools to provide self-evaluative judgements on performance and provision in religious education at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 (high priority)

4. SACRE ask the local authority to ensure the forthcoming handbook for RE makes explicit reference to how the agreed syllabus can address social and racial harmony through its effective implementation (high priority)

5. SACRE consider the issues of non-compliance of secondary schools on collective worship and statutory requirements for RE for all pupils at Key Stage 4 and whether it wishes the local authority to provide further advice and offer further support to secondary schools (fairly high priority)

6. SACRE ask the local authority, through the County Inspector for RE, to continue research into wider local authority provision for children and young people with a view to establishing complementary provision through a young people's faith forum (fairly high priority)

7. SACRE seek funding from NASACRE to establish its young people's faith forum (fairly high priority)

8. SACRE develop its partnership with key stakeholders such as Southampton Council of Faiths, parent governors, teachers and young people (fairly high priority)

9. SACRE meet at different venues, including places of worship and schools, and arrange for speakers from different faiths and teachers to address those meetings (fairly high priority)

10. 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 (fairly high priority).

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.