Archived decisions

Contact: Judith Lowndes - General Inspector for RE (02392 441518)

1. Summary

1.1 This report presents the work of the monitoring sub-group on quality and standards in RE and compliance with statutory obligations for RE and Collective Worship. It relates to points 3 and 4 of the SACRE Development Plan.

1.2 This paper supports Aim 1 of the Corporate Strategy (maximising life opportunities) and Aim 4 of the Corporate Strategy (building strong and safe communities).

2. Background

2.1 The monitoring sub group met on 20 March to discuss the provision of RE and collective worship in Hampshire schools.

2.2 Ofsted reports had been received from:

4 Infant schools

1 Junior school

1 Primary school

2 Secondary schools

The group scrutinised and discussed these reports and decided that 3 schools should be sent, on behalf of SACRE, letters of encouragement and one a letter of commendation for their above average provision of RE. These were all from the Primary phase. No detailed subject reports for RE were available for the secondary schools inspected.

2.3 The group also scrutinised the inspection reports in relation to collective worship. The examples from the Primary phase reports were all positive. Both the reports from the secondary schools, however, indicated that the schools did not meet the statutory requirements for providing a daily act of collective worship. It was suggested that the group might focus on the issues in relation to collective worship provision in the secondary phase with a view to providing a report for the full SACRE.

2.4 Self assessment in schools

From September 2006 the Ofsted framework for inspection changed and schools are now required to evaluate their own provision and complete a required proforma electronically. Ofsted inspectors use this information as evidence and short inspections and brief inspection reports are provided by Ofsted inspectors. Detailed reports in relation to religious education and collective worship are no longer available.

The County Education Officer (RE Inspector) has sought advice about the suggestion that SACRE could request access to schools' self evaluation forms from RE departments in order to monitor the provision of RE in schools. The response from HIAS (Hampshire Inspection and Advisory Service) was that it would be insensitive to request access to SEFs.

Alternative suggestions were made:

(a) that the issue about SACRE's responsibility to monitor RE in schools should be presented to the Headteacher Executive Panels (Primary and Secondary) to ask for their responses and ideas


(b) that schools might submit anonymous SEFs to allow SACRE to continue its monitoring role for RE across the county, looking for generic issues across schools.

The County Education Officer (RE Inspector) will seek further advice from senior county officers about clarification of SACRE's monitoring role.

2.5 A number of secondary schools have volunteered their self-evaluation forms for religious education for the monitoring sub group to view. These schools were personally selected by the RE Inspector who has contact with the particular heads of department.

The RE Inspector introduced members of the monitoring sub group to the reference material available to schools for completing their SEFs (self evaluation forms). The group viewed and discussed the SEFs submitted by schools with a focus on one particular school as a good example. It became apparent that completing a SEF is demanding. It was suggested that the assistant Headteacher of Cowplain School could be invited to the Autumn term full SACRE meeting to explain the completion of SEFs.

3. Recommendations

3.1 That the monitoring sub group focus on the issues relating to collective worship in secondary schools with a view to providing a report for the full SACRE.

3.2 That the assistant headteacher of Cowplain School be invited to the full SACRE meeting in November to explain the procedures and experiences of completing a self evaluation form.

3.3 That the County Inspector for RE consult with the Chairs of the Headteacher Executive Panels on how best to execute SACRE monitoring of subject specific self-evaluation.

4. 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

None