Archived decisions
AT A MEETING of the STANDING ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (SACRE) held at The Education Centre, Winchester Cathedral, Winchester on Tuesday, 10 June 2008.
PRESENT
Chairman
p Councillor Anna McNair Scott ( Hampshire County Council)
Vice-Chairman
p Honorary Alderman Stuart Juniper (Hampshire County Council)
Ms. Maggie Allder - Society of Friends (Quakers)
p Mr. Mohammed Ansar - Sunni Islam
Mrs. Elaine Bellchambers - Higher Education - Co-opted
a Mr. Hugh Benzie - Methodist Church
Mr. Tony Blackshaw - Church of England
p Councillor Mrs. Ann Buckley - Hampshire County Council
Ms. Rebecca Costambeys - Secondary Education - Co-opted
Mr. Ameek Singh Digpal - Sikism
p Mr. Chris Hughes - Fellowship of Independent Evangelical
Churches
a Mr. Julius Klein - Judaism
Mrs. Julie Lemon - Special Education - Co-opted
p Ms Jackie McGregor - Salvation Army
p Ms Liz Muir - Teachers Association
p Mr. Mahmood Nurmohammed - Shia Islam
p Mrs. Jean O'Reilly - Humanism - Co-opted
a Councillor Sam Payne - Hampshire County Council
p Mrs. Amanda Post - Primary Education - Co-opted
p Mr. Chris Pritchard - Church of England
a Revd. Ganshin Rock - Buddhism
Mr. Jagdish'L Sharmar - Hinduism
Mr. Paul Tipple - Baptist Union
p Cannon John Turpin - Church of England
Mr. Nigel Utton - Teachers Association
Mrs. Lillian Wetherley - Church of England
Also in attendance: Venus Hung and Elsa Lau Hong Kong delegates
98. APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Mr. Hugh Benzie, Councillor Sam Payne, Revd. Ganshin Rock and Mr. Julius Klein, who was unable to attend due to the second day of the celebration of the festival of Shavuot.
99. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members were mindful that, where they believed that they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should normally, at the time of the debate, declare their interest, and having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 12 of the Code .
No declarations of interest were made.
100. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Standing Advisory Council held on 26 February 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
101 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
a. Winchester Cathedral Tour
The Chairman thanked the representatives of the cathedral for the member's tour of the cathedral prior to the commencement of the meeting.
b. National Association of Standing Advisory Councils for Religious Education
The Chairman reported that she had recently attended the National Association of Standing Advisory Councils for Religious Education conference.
c. Constitution
The Chairman reported that arrangements were in hand to look at the role of the Standing Advisory Council so as to include social cohesion and to ensure that work is focused.
d. Welcome
The Chairman welcomed Venus and Elsa from Hong Kong
102 DEPUTATIONS
There were no deputations
103 HONG KONG DELEGATES - PRESENTATION
Venus gave a presentation on religious education in Hong Kong and how ethics and religious studies were integrated as part of courses.
Elsa gave a presentation on the work of the Centre for Religious and Spiritual Education Research Project and a conference workshop that had been held on life and death education and children's spirituality.
104 SOCIAL COHESION PROJECT
The Director of Children's Services presented a report on progress made in the first year of the Social Cohesion Project (Item 7 in the Minute Book). The first year of the project addressed social/community cohesion in Hampshire which culminated in a conference at Winchester University held on 27 March 2008 which was hosted and funded by Aimhigher. The project had enabled the construction of a strategy for addressing social cohesion in relation to community diversity and conditions for effective learning of pupils in schools.
RESOLVED:
That the report be noted and continued developments of the Social/Community Cohesion project into its second year be endorsed.
105 YOUNG PEOPLE'S INTER-FAITH PROJECT
The Director of Children's Services presented a report providing an update on the developments of the Young people's Inter-Faith Project (Item 8 in the Minute Book). Progress of the project included:
· The work of the Youth interfaith forum having successfully dovetailed with the activities of the social cohesion project. Darryl Sheppard and Ken Hedley who had responsibility to lead the youth interfaith project had joined the working group of the social cohesion project and contributed to activities with pupils in some of the involved schools.
· The first year of the joint project culminated in a very successful conference hosted by Aimhigher at Winchester University. Pupils from various backgrounds and faiths were able to talk about their enquiry into their experiences of difference.
· Pupils' and students' findings and experiences were reported at the NASACRE (National Association of SACREs) conference in May.
· Darryl Sheppard currently investigating and pursuing funding to increase the hours of Ken Hedley and ensure the continuation of this vital and much needed work to ensure the effective and meaningful participation of Hampshire children and young people from diverse groups and backgrounds.
RESOLVED:
That the report be noted and the continued work of the project be endorsed.
106 MONITORING SUB-GROUP
The Director of Children's Services presented a report on the findings of the Monitoring Sub-Group (Item 9 in the Minute Book). The Group had discussed Ofsted reports that had been provided by Secondary Schools which were very positive and noted outstanding attainment in Religious Education. Members had expressed concerns about the Group's ability to fulfil its statutory role of monitoring Religious Education in schools, several strategies had been implemented which had provided limited and sparse information which had resulted in the Group being unable to make a secure appraisal of Religious Education provision across Hampshire. It was suggested that some Group Members might receive specific training from the Religious Education Inspection and Advisory Service and visit schools alongside them and report on their observations to the SACRE Monitoring sub-group. The Chief Executive advised that CRB checks would be required for any member carrying out a school visit.
RSEOLVED:
That the report be noted
107 NETWORKING WITH LOCAL SACRES
The Director of Children's Services presented a report seeking endorsement for future liaison meetings and joint working with local SACREs (Item 10 in the Minute Book). Meetings with representatives of Portsmouth and Southampton SACREs had been convened to discuss opportunities and strategies for future collaboration with the aim of achieving a baseline consistency of approach on issues relating to Religious Education. It was hoped to include the Isle of Wight and Westminster in future meetings, and that Bournemouth and West Sussex should be invited to an additional annual meeting.
.
RESOLVED:
That the report be noted and continued meetings with members of local SACREs in order to seek collaboration and joint activities be endorsed.
108 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SACRES (NASACRE) ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Director of Children's Services presented a report on the outcomes of the NASACRE Annual General Meeting (Item 11 in the Minute Book). The Chairman, the County Religious Education Inspector and the General Inspector for Religious Education attended the above national meeting. The agenda included an address from Karen Armstrong, a renowned and prolific author in the field of religious studies. A number of representatives from Religious Education organisations provided updates about various national projects.
RESOLVED:
That the report be noted.
109 DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Members noted that the next meeting would be held at 2pm on Tuesday, 4 November 2008 at The Castle, Winchester.