Agenda and draft minutes

Members were advised that –

·         SACRE’s Chair, Maxine Bradshaw had resigned due to other commitments [the Vice Chair, Reverend Martin Evans-Jones took the Chair for the meeting], and

·         Mrs. Elaine Wright was attending her last meeting of SACRE before standing down as the Church in Wales representative.  The Chair thanked Mrs. Wright for her service on the committee and wished her well for the future

The meeting began with a few minutes silent reflection.

Maxine Bradshaw, Dominic Oakes, Lt. Sian Radford and Gavin Craigen.

Apologies had also been received from Karen Evans, Head of Education.

No declarations of personal or prejudicial interest had been raised.

No urgent matters had been raised.

To receive and approve the minutes of the Denbighshire SACRE meeting held on 1 February 2013 (copy enclosed) and to consider any matters arising.

The minutes of the meeting of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) held on 1 February 2013 (previously circulated) were submitted.

Matters Arising –

Page 11 – Item No. 9 – Future Arrangements for the Monitoring of RE in schools – The Systems Leader for GwE (SL) advised that a presentation on the RE Quality Mark would be made to WASACRE on 19 June 2013 by teachers from the pilot school.  Members agreed to receive a presentation by the SL on that subject at their next meeting on 2 October 2013.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the SACRE meeting held on 1 February 2013 be received and approved as a correct record.

To receive a presentation from Toni Coulton on provision for SMSC in the further education sector and discuss how SACRE could support Rhyl Sixth Form and FE College.

The need for chaplaincy in the further education sector had been raised previously at a meeting of WASACRE.  The Systems Leader for GwE (SL) introduced Toni Coulton who had been invited to the meeting to deliver a presentation on SMSC provision and for SACRE to discuss how it could support Rhyl Sixth Form and FE College.  Ms Coulton worked with FESTIVE (FE and Sixth Form Initiative), a Christian initiative to support those who worked in the further education sector.

Ms. Coulton delivered a power point presentation to SACRE entitled ‘Further Education and Wellbeing’.  She highlighted that the provision of RE and Collective Worship was a statutory requirement within school sixth form but not within FE colleges.  Whilst accepting that making RE provision statutory for all 16 – 19 year olds was unlikely, she believed it was possible to make a good case for non-statutory RE in further education.  The presentation covered –

·         anomalies in statutory and non-statutory provision of RE and Collective Worship

·         the number of 16 – 18 year olds studying in schools and colleges together with a further breakdown of those in or out of education and employment

·         organisations involved in supporting national work and producing resources including the National Council for Faith and Belief in Further Education; Dare 2 Engage, Faith Tutorials and AFAN (All Faiths and None)

·         differences in the guidance produced by Ofsted in England and Estyn in Wales with specific reference to SMSC in England but only generalisations and a lack of clear guidance in Wales

·         reference to a number of resources and publications, some of which were available at the meeting for perusal, including ‘Making Space for Faith’ and ‘Challenging Voices’

·         extracts of Estyn’s quality indicators showing a focus on outcomes for Wellbeing instead of an emphasis on provision.

In considering the way forward, Ms. Coulton suggested –

·         some research – maybe with the chaplains of Welsh FE colleges

·         building on ‘Challenging Voices’ (how to provide chaplaincy within a college)

·         seek a replacement of the FE work to be part of local SACRE

·         demonstrate to Estyn that faith/belief can and should be in the guidelines as in England

Finally members’ attention was drawn to the work of Joseph George, Project Worker (details circulated at the meeting) who had been appointed to unite existing faith based work and introduce new work to areas in college where currently there were no Christian Groups.  Joseph worked 16 hours per week: 8 at Rhos, 4 at Rhyl Sixth and 4 at all other sites.  Opportunities provided at Rhyl Sixth included tutorials, faith room and staff and student meetings.

Members support and provision in the further education sector with Ms. Coulton and she responded to questions and comments as follows –

·         a faith room had been provided at Rhyl Sixth but more work was needed to embed its use within the college

·         acknowledged the importance of joined up working and highlighted relationships which had been forged with further education colleges and clergy in the area

·         there was a need to raise awareness of provision/support available and to provide an opportunity for those wishing to engage in an educational setting

·         advised that although Llysfasi College was in Denbighshire it was part of Deeside College in Flintshire which had little provision

·         recognised the importance of providing information and provision through the medium of Welsh and progress was being made in that regard; in particular the FESTIVE website provided bilingual information and Welsh colleges had access to that information

·         despite efforts no information had been included within the college prospectus regarding provision and SACRE’s help in achieving that would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider a report by the Senior Learning Adviser RE (copy enclosed) analysing the results of the recent inspections of five schools undertaken between November 2012 and January 2013.

The Systems Leader for GwE (SL) submitted a report (previously circulated) analysing the results of recent Estyn inspections in terms of RE provision and collective worship in five schools between November 2012 and January 2013.  Inspections had been carried out at Ysgol Gymraeg y Gwernant, Llangollen; Ysgol Bryn Hedydd, Rhyl; Ysgol Uwchradd Glan Clwyd, St Asaph; Ysgol Llywelyn, Rhyl and Ysgol y Llys, Prestatyn.

The SL provided members with a brief resume of the findings relating to each school and members were pleased to note the positive comments across the schools with no negative comments having been received.  In response to questions the SL confirmed that under the guidance there was no requirement to comment on Collective Worship so the positive comment for Ysgol Gwernant in that regard was particularly welcome.  Members noted the mix of schools inspected across disadvantaged and affluent areas and the SL referred to the importance of schools performing well in spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development to ensure a better holistic education.

RESOLVED that –

(a)       the report be received and noted;

(b)       a letter be sent to the schools inspected informing them that their Inspection Report had been considered, congratulating them on the good features identified, and

(c)        the Local Authority be requested to distribute the above letters.

To receive a verbal update from the Senior Learning Adviser RE on the RE Literacy and Numeracy competition.

The Systems Leader for GwE (SL) provided a verbal update on the RE Literacy and Numeracy Competition for schools to produce resources that would include Literacy and Numeracy in Religious Education.

Sixteen competition entries had been received including entries from three Denbighshire schools – Clocaenog; Esgob Morgan and Trefnant.  It had been agreed to award a prize of £150 to every school who had participated together with a certificate confirming the submission of a winning entry.  Whilst the lack of entrants had been disappointing it had allowed for the production of a more manageable resource which was currently being collated and likely to be available in the autumn.  In response to a question the SL confirmed that the resource would be sent out to all schools and in order to raise awareness of its existence he encouraged those associated with schools to bring it to the attention of the schools consortia.

RESOLVED that the verbal update on the RE Literacy and Numeracy Competition be received and noted.

To receive a verbal report from the Senior Learning Adviser RE on the REC Sponsored Walk.

The Systems Leader for GwE (SL) verbally reported upon the REC Sponsored Walk which took place on 11 May 2013 in Llangollen to support the work of the Religious Council for England and Wales.  He provided further details of the event which had proved a success with approximately £500 raised to date.  More information about the fundraiser could be found on the RE Council for England and Wales website http://religiouseducationcouncil.org.uk/about/sponsored-walk and it was still possible to donate via Virgin Money Giving http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action

In response to a question from the Chair the SL advised that the Walk would likely become an annual RE ramble but not a sponsored event.

RESOLVED that the verbal report on the REC Sponsored Walk be received and noted.

(a)  To receive the minutes of the last meeting of the Association held on 22 March 2013 in Newport (copy enclosed), and

(b)  To agree attendance at the next WASACRE meeting to be held in Caernarfon on 19 June 2013 and to discuss nominations for the Executive Committee (copy enclosed).

(a) Minutes of WASACRE – 22 March 2013

The draft minutes of the meeting of the Wales Association of SACREs (WASACRE) held at Newport on 22 March 2013 (previously circulated) were submitted for members’ information.

RESOLVED that minutes of WASACRE held on 22 March 2013 be received.

(b) WASACRE meeting – 19 June 2013

The Systems Leader for GwE (SL) advised that the next WASACRE meeting would be held on 19 June 2013 in Caernarfon and sought confirmation of representatives to attend.  He also drew members’ attention to nominations received for the Executive Committee (previously circulated) advising that eight nominations had been received for three positions.

Members discussed attendance at the next meeting and considered the background and experience of the candidates and it was –

RESOLVED that –

(a)       Reverend Martin Evans-Jones, Councillor Arwel Roberts (morning session) and Philip Lord attend the next WASACRE meeting on 19 June, and

(b)       Mark Brown, Mary Parry and Judy Harris receive Denbighshire SACRE’s vote for election to the WASACRE Executive Committee.

The SL advised that the review of the Agreed Syllabus was due but in light of the forthcoming Curriculum Review WASACRE had issued a statement recommending ‘that SACREs start an agreed syllabus review process that was on-going for the next few years and should implement changes to their agreed syllabus in response to the curriculum review arrangements after September 2014’.  In view of the impact of the curriculum review and WASACRE’s recommendation it was –

RESOLVED that the review of the Agreed Syllabus be postponed pending the findings of the curriculum review.

The next meeting will be held at 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday 2 October 2013 in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Ruthin.

The next meeting of the Denbighshire SACRE would be held at 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday 2 October 2013 in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Ruthin.

The meeting concluded at 11.25 a.m.