Agenda and minutes

10.1   The Chairman welcomed all members of SACRE to the hybrid meeting being held in Committee Room 2 and via Microsoft Teams.

Members are asked to note the following change to SACRE’s membership:

·         Ms Philippa Elliott (Humanists UK) has joined Committee A as a new representative.

Members are asked to approve the following:

·         Mrs Grace Waker (Head of Religious Education at Steyning Grammar School) as a co-opted member of SACRE.

11.1   Members of the Council noted that Ms Philippa Elliott (Humanists UK) has joined SACRE as a member of Committee A.

11.2   Members of the Council approved the appointment of Mrs Grace Waker (Head of Religious Education at Steyning Grammar School) as a co-opted member of SACRE.

Members to agree the minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2023 as a correct record.

12.1   In reference to para 4.5, Mrs Hammond said that a review of the West Sussex SACRE’s Terms of Reference has been deferred to the next meeting of SACRE on 26 March 2024, in agreement with the Chairman.

12.2   In reference to para 4.6, Mrs Hammond explained that she had received some correspondence from members about developing a West Sussex SACRE newsletter and the working group held an initial meeting on 3 October. A second meeting of the working group has been arranged for February 2024 with a view to finalising plans for the newsletter. Ideas for content have been suggested following the recent autumn World Religions and World Views roadshows, including a report provided by Mr Andrew Simpson (Committee B – Church of England).

12.3   In reference to para 5.6, Mrs Hammond questioned if the West Sussex Youth Cabinet has been approached yet regarding the consultation process for the Agreed Syllabus 2025-30. The Clerk said this action has been earmarked and will be completed at an appropriate time of year.

12.4   In reference to para 6.6, Mrs Hammond announced that she would attend the next meeting of Chief Executives of local multi-academy trusts and report back to SACRE, as agreed by Steve Nyakatawa, the County Council’s Interim Assistant Director of Education and Skills.

12.5   In reference to para 6.7, Mrs Hammond confirmed that she met with Mrs Jo Beer.

12.6   In reference to para 7.5, Mrs Hammond explained that the future start time of SACRE meetings will remain 10.30am, in order to accommodate the majority of members. 

12.7   In reference to para 8.1, Mrs Barbara Bell (Committee A – Jewish) informed the Council that the planned Jewish Living Exhibition event, running for three weeks from 20 September, was postponed due to a lack of support. Mrs Bell will update members regarding a re-arranged date in due course.

12.8   Resolved – that the minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2023 be approved as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman. 

Karen Hammond, External Advisor, to offer a reflection on the two World Religions and World Views Roadshows that took place on 31 October and 9 November.  Members are invited to discuss any lessons for future events and next steps. 

13.1   Mrs Hammond expressed her thanks to Bishop Luffa School in Chichester and Tanbridge House School in Horsham for hosting the two recent World Religions and World Views roadshows on 31 October and 9 November respectively.

13.2   Mrs Hammond reported good levels of engagement at the Chichester event between head teachers, teachers and school governors, but expected more than 15 attendees. She added that the low attendance may have been due in part to the bad weather and the event coinciding with Halloween.

13.3   Mrs Hammond praised the fantastic engagement and quality of display stands at both events. 30 people attended the Horsham roadshow, comprised of head teachers, teachers and school governors, including the Chair of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead SACRE.

          Action: Mrs Hammond to invite the host schools’ Year 9 pupils to see the display stands at the venue directly before future roadshows take place.

13.4   Mrs Hammond reflected that there is a need to create a contacts database including RE heads and leads to promote similar events in the future. The Chairman agreed and clarified that the existing database includes head teachers only and some he has spoken to have admitted that communications can often get overlooked due to the large volume of emails they receive.
Action: Mrs Hammond to raise this suggestion with Derry Richardson, WSCC Head of Service – Commercial and Contracting, for her team to lead on implementing.

13.5   A member said that the roadshows highlighted the need for schools to engage with and learn from one another and improve the transparency of SACRE’s role and work. Members called for more of the same events during the academic year.

13.6   A member praised the networking at ground level as well as the teachers’ clear hunger for RE knowledge, despite some not being specialist RE teachers.

13.7   A member commented that the events provided a brilliant opportunity to find common ground and that they have since received huge demand to appear at local schools and represent their faith.

13.8   Members thanked Mrs Hammond for her work in organising the events. The roadshows were also commended for highlighting the diverse communities across West Sussex.
Action: Mrs Hammond to ensure that promotional materials for future events are shared with SACRE members in advance to circulate to their networks, in an attempt to boost attendance figures.

13.9   A member suggested that head teachers should be made aware of their union representative contacts at the beginning of each academic year and publicise their contact details in schools’ communal staff areas.

Action: Mrs Hammond to look into the feasibility of creating SACRE email addresses for the membership through Mr Nyakatawa’s team, as members currently rely on using their own personal and business email addresses.

13.10It was suggested that positive quotes from teachers who attended the recent events are incorporated in future publicity for the roadshows.

13.11The Chairman summarised his first-hand experience of the roadshows:

·         It was good to meet up in an informal environment and speak  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Karen Hammond, External Advisor, will provide members with a summary of the outcomes of The Bloom Review: An Independent Review into how Government engages with Faith. 

14.1   Mrs Hammond introduced the item and explained that no action had been taken to date in respect of the 22 recommendations since the report was published.

14.2   A member commented that the report had no impact on the Department for Education (DfE) in terms of responses and calls for change. It was added that the report had received some criticism and is not being moved forward despite calls from pressure groups such as NASACRE. It was suggested that this was raised at a higher political level with the DfE’s newly appointed Minister of State for Schools, The Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP.

          Action: Mrs Hammond to email the suggestion to NASACRE.

Action: Mr Nyakatawa to put the recommendation on the next Joint Consultative Committee agenda following a member’s suggestion.

14.3   Resolved – SACRE noted the report and supported the recommendation that the Chairman proposes the Local Education Authority considers the report in respect of raising the profile and improving the breadth of religious education in schools (Recommendation 7, Chapter 3 in the report).

Action: The Chairman to put this proposal in writing to the Leader of West Sussex County Council, Cllr Paul Marshall, and the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Learning and Skills, Cllr Jacquie Russell.

Karen Hammond, External Advisor, will provide a verbal update on progress made on issues raised at previous meetings. 

SACRE is asked to note the update. 

15.1   Mrs Hammond reported that she has begun working with the LEA’s Head of Service – Commercial and Contracting, Derry Richardson, and a SACRE work programme is in development. 

15.2   Mrs Hammond updated members that primary and secondary school briefing papers have been provided to school governors to advise them of the right type of questions to ask regarding RE provision in schools.

15.3   Mrs Hammond updated members that the 2022 SACRE Annual Report had now been published on the LEA’s website.

15.4   Mrs Hammond informed members that an item on the review of West Sussex SACRE’s Terms of Reference will be added to the next meeting’s agenda on 26 March 2024.

15.5   Mrs Hammond explained that an objective for 2024 is to raise SACRE’s profile among multi-academy trusts in West Sussex.

15.6   Mrs Hammond invited members to join the existing working group set up to lead on: reviewing and updating the development plan, planning newsletter content, creating a database for RE leads and delivering an ‘Introduction to SACRE’ training session for school governors.

          Action: Mrs Hammond to organise and deliver a virtual induction session for new SACRE members by the end of 2023.

15.7   Mrs Hammond announced that the University of Chichester has offered to provide specialist training for new RE teachers in West Sussex schools. Mrs Beer, co-opted member, emphasised the need for consistency in religious literacy among new and existing teachers.

15.8   Members highlighted the difficulty in recruiting specialist RE teachers on both a national and local level. Mrs Beer signposted members to two associations able to provide support and guidance in this.

Steve Nyakatawa, Interim Assistant Director of Education and Skills to give a verbal update to SACRE.

16.1   Mr Nyakatawa made the following observations having attended his first SACRE meeting:

·         Looks forward to working with SACRE to maintain standards and effectiveness and increase the presence of advisors in schools.

·         There needs to be a focused approach to progress the newsletter through Derry Richardson.

·         Would welcome being kept updated regarding arrangements for future roadshows.

·         Noted that multi-academy trusts have the flexibility to change their curriculum.

Action: Derry Richardson to share a report on the latest available RE examination results. Encourage standards and effectiveness advisors to promote RE.

16.2   Mrs Hammond placed on record her thanks to Derry Richardson for the support she’s received so far.

17.1     A member raised the matter of reduced religious broadcasting on Radio Sussex and invited members to join them in offering their support to improve coverage.

17.2     Mr Soni informed members that Hindus are to hold an event at Queen’s Square in Crawley on Saturday 20 January 2024 and invited members to contact him if they wished to display a stand at the event.
Action: Clerk to circulate details to SACRE members.

The date of the next meeting is Tuesday 26 March 2024. 

Future meeting dates are:

·       10 June 2024

·       18 November 2024

·       24 February 2025

18.1   SACRE noted that the next meeting would be held on the new date of 26 March 2024 at County Hall, Chichester, with the hybrid option for joining being available to those who require it.