Agenda and minutes

The meeting began with a few minutes silent reflection.

Members to declare any personal or prejudicial interests in any business identified to be considered at this meeting.

No declarations of personal or prejudicial interest had been raised.

Notice of items which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency pursuant to Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

No urgent matters had been raised.

To receive and approve the minutes of the Denbighshire SACRE meeting held on 24 February 2012 (copy enclosed) and to consider any matters arising.

The minutes of the meeting of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) held on 24^th February, 2012 (previously circulated) were submitted.

Matters Arising –

Page 6 – Item No. 8 – Literacy/Numeracy within RE Competition for Schools.

The Senior Learning Adviser RE (SLA:RE) verbally reported a bid to Archbishop Rice Jones Charitable Trust for grant funding to support the competition had been refused.  SLA:RE reported Denbighshire County Council were to fund the competition.

Page 7 – Mrs. Mairwenna Lloyd confirmed letters of appreciation had been received by long serving members who had resigned from SACRE.  The letters were sent thanking the individuals for their dedication and valuable service over the years.

Page 8 – Item No. 9 – New Estyn Inspections and the focus on School Evaluation.

SLA:RE reported an invitation had yet to be extended to a school who had been subject to an inspection by Estyn under the new framework to attend a future SACRE meeting.  The attendance at a future SACRE meeting would enable the school to advise on their experience and how RE had been perceived by the Estyn Inspectors.

Page 9 – Item No. 10 – Nomination to WASACRE Executive

SLA:RE had been nominated and accepted on to the WASACRE Executive.

SLA:RE explained there were 22 Local Authorities in Wales and representatives from each Local Authority met 3 times per year at WASACRE.  Executive Members from WASACRE meet with a wider body throughout the UK.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the SACRE meeting held on 24^th February 2012 be received and approved as a correct record.

To consider a report by the Senior Learning Adviser RE (copy enclosed) analysing the results of the recent inspections of six schools undertaken between November 2011 and March 2012.

The Senior Learning Adviser RE (SLA:RE) presented the Analysis of Inspection Report (previously circulated).

SLA:RE gave a resume of the report and commented on the fact that the Estyn report referred to RE which was gratefully received. 

Mairwenna Lloyd extended her appreciation to SLA:RE for drawing down  information from the Estyn Report for the Committees deliberation.  She also recommended letters of congratulations be sent to the six schools for their excellent work.

Sylvia Harris commented on the fact that Ysgol Tir Morfa had some pupils with severe learning difficulties and a special mention of congratulations should be extended to Tir Morfa following the comments within the Report.

RESOLVED that –

(a)               the report be received and noted;

(b)               a letter be sent to each of the schools informing them that their Inspection Report had been considered, congratulating them for good features identified, and reminding them of the services of the Senior Learning Adviser and School Improvement Officers in relation to any areas for development or key issues needing addressing;

(c)               to request the LEA distribute the letters to the schools involved.

To receive a report by the Senior Learning Adviser RE (copy enclosed) on the provision of Religious Education in the Denbigh High School consortium of schools.

The Senior Learning Adviser RE (SLA:RE) presented the report (previously circulated).

SLA:RE  visited 2 High Schools, plus their feeder Primary Schools, per year on behalf of Denbighshire County Council to observe lessons.  The report presented was for Denbigh High School and feeder Primary Schools.

SLA:RE informed the Committee a Twilight Session had been held and approximately 55 teachers had attended, which had been an extremely impressive turnout. The production of the data within the report enabled SLA:RE to monitor the progress and to sit with teachers and suggest alternative ways of working if necessary.

At this juncture (2.45pm) Councillor Arwyl Roberts left the meeting.

SLA:RE gave a brief resume of the report.

Mairwenna Lloyd extended thanks on behalf of SACRE to SLA:RE for the hard work involved with arranging the twilight session.

Councillor Margaret McCarroll asked for it to be noted she was extremely impressed with the work of SACRE and even though she had been a school governor for many years she had been unaware of the role of SACRE.

Mairwenna Lloyd informed Councillor McCarroll that since 2007/2008, the SLA:RE had no longer been allowed into Catholic Schools as the Catholic ethos was that they had their own advisers.. 

Councillors Bill Tasker and Margaret McCarroll stated they would report back to the Board of Governors and explain about SACRE and the excellent work they do.

Cate Harmsworth wished to make it known how hard teachers work.  Teachers had only 2.5 hours per week free time to deal with lesson plans etc. Teachers who attended the twilight session did so in their own time and unpaid which showed absolute dedication and commitment.

RESOLVED that –

(a)               the report be received and noted;

(b)               agree letters be sent to the schools with a copy of the full report as presented to SACRE

(c)               to request the LEA to distribute the letters to the schools involved.

(a)   To receive the minutes of the last meeting of the Association held on 30 March 2012 in Ceredigion (copy enclosed)

(b)   To consider the response from the Welsh Government regarding the issue of representation on SACREs by British Humanist Association

7(a)     The Senior Learning Adviser RE (SLA:RE) presented the minutes of the last meeting of WASACRE (previously circulated).

SLA:RE referred to page 35, Item No. 10 of the minutes – NAPfRE Presentation: Learning outside the classroom.  Approximately 150 pupils passed through Bangor Cathedral on the day of the presentation.  The St. Mary’s Centre, undertook a research project sending out questionnaires before and after the experience.  The outcome was that children’s Religious Education benefited from the experience.

Mairwenna Lloyd asked SLA:RE if he would reproduce a similar presentation day next Christmas in Denbighshire.  SLA:RE confirmed he would approach St. Asaph Cathedral.  Bangor Cathedral had requested the presentation day be scheduled again next Christmas.

7(b)     The Senior Learning Adviser RE (SLA:RE) clarified SACRE was made up of local members from the Council, Church, teachers and other religious bodies.  The British Humanist Association (BHA) had sent in a request for one of their members to be a religious body representative on SACRE.  WASACREs legal response was a BHA representative could not become a Part A member but could become a Co-Optee, therefore being unable to vote.  At the present time only a relatively small number of people are members of the BHA within Denbighshire. 

A brief discussion took place and it was agreed a Member of the BHA would be invited to SACRE to present to the Committee the reason behind becoming a Member and also what the BHA representative would bring to SACRE.

RESOLVED that –

(a)               The minutes of WASACRE meeting held on 30^th March 2012 be received and approved as a correct record;

(b)               The Senior Learning Adviser RE contact St. Asaph Cathedral regarding a presentation day for pupils next Christmas

(c)               The Senior Learning Adviser RE invite a Member of the British Humanist Association to give a presentation at a forthcoming SACRE meeting as to why they want to become a Member and what they will bring to SACRE.

To receive a verbal report from the Senior Learning Adviser RE regarding the use of the Moodle website for schools to access RE resources.

The Senior Learning Adviser RE (SLA:RE) gave a verbal report to inform Members of the use of the Moodle Website for schools to access RE resources.  In Flintshire, numerous documents had been added on Moodle for schools to access.  SLA:RE had secured an area on the Denbighshire Moodle and all resources would be available by the end of next week.  Schools had access to the Moodle site with passwords and could enter into the Council Moodle site.  Regular updates on the Moodle site would be carried out by SLA:RE.

RESOLVED that the Senior Learning Adviser for RE update the Moodle website with relevant RE resources for schools to use.

To receive a verbal update from the Senior Learning Adviser RE regarding the competition for schools to produce resources that will include Literacy and Numeracy in Key Stage 2 and/or Key Stage 3 Religious Education.

The Senior Learning Adviser RE (SLA:RE) gave a verbal report informing Members of the Literacy/Numeracy within RE competition for schools.  SLA:RE read aloud a letter received from the Archbishop Rice Jones Trust rejecting the bid for funding.  Denbighshire County Council have since offered funding for the competition.

Sylvia Harris explained she was one of the Trustees of the Archbishop Rice Jones Trust which was a very small charity and the upper limit of their funding was £250.  Unfortunately, this amount could not be devoted to the competition but the Trust whole heartedly supported the competition.

SLA:RE informed the Committee the prize money was £200 for the winning entry.  The closing date had originally been before half term but only one entry had been received which had been from Ysgol Morgan in Denbighshire.  SLA:RE suggested extending the competition closing date to October half term to encourage more applications.

Mairwenna Lloyd agreed to this idea and suggested SLA:RE contact Ysgol Morgan to explain the closing date had been extended and if they wished to withdraw their current application and re-apply, it would be their decision.  Councillor Margaret McCarroll seconded this recommendation.

SLA:RE clarified it was two competitions, one for literacy and one for numeracy.

RESOLVED that –

(a)               the Senior Learning Adviser for RE to inform schools the extended closing date of the competition was now October Half Term

(b)               the Senior Learning Adviser to contact Ysgol Morgan informing them of the extended closing date and to enquire if they wished to withdraw their application and re-apply or were they satisfied with their current application.

The next meeting of Denbighshire SACRE will be held at 10.00 a.m. on Friday 5 October 2012 in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Ruthin.

Next meeting to take place on Friday, 5^th October, 2012 at 10.00am

Venue -  Council Chamber, County Hall, Ruthin.

In closing the meeting the Chair thanked everyone for their attendance.

The meeting concluded at 3.40pm