Agenda and minutes

85.1     The Chairman thanked Karen Hammond, the Agreed Syllabus Working Group and officers from the Department of Education and Skills who had all worked hard to produce the draft syllabus.

Acting as the Agreed Syllabus Conference, SACRE members are asked to adopt the draft syllabus to be implemented from January 2021.

86.1     The draft Agreed Syllabus was introduced by Karen Hammond (Consultant) who thanked everyone who had worked hard on the syllabus during very challenging times and advised: -

·       Consultation had taken place with a number of primary and secondary head teachers

·       The new syllabus was more user friendly with links to resources that would be especially helpful to non-specialist teachers

·       The re-write was light touch and incorporated themes to recognise the diversity of beliefs and the recognition of religion and world views

·       The syllabus is to be launched in January 2021

·       Well planned training on the syllabus needed to be arranged

·       It was hoped that cluster groups would form strong RE networks

86.2     Summary of responses to the Agreed Syllabus Conference’s comments and questions: -

·       There was concern that the new syllabus would be launched at a time when schools were very busy and might get overlooked

·       Guidance on teaching Christianity and two other principal religions should be covered in training

·       The syllabus should not be so prescriptive that it did not allow schools’ teaching to reflect their local communities

·       Teacher training was crucial and would provide feedback for the continued development of the syllabus as would cluster groups

·       There was no requirement for different religious denominations to be taught in RE – this could be covered in teacher training

·       SACRE members would have a chance to comment on the final editing version of the syllabus before it was published

86.3     A vote was taken for each of the four committees that comprised the West Sussex Agreed Syllabus Conference, each of which supported the adoption of the draft syllabus.

86.4     The West Sussex Agreed Syllabus Conference thanked everyone involved in developing the syllabus for their hard work and highlighted that training and resources were key for teachers to be able to deliver it.

86.5     Resolved – that the West Sussex Agreed Syllabus Conference agrees that the draft syllabus should be adopted and implemented from January 2021. Post meeting note: Due to the ongoing pandemic, the Agreed Syllabus was launched to a revised timescale in April 2021.

86.6     The Agreed Syllabus Conference then closed, and the meeting of the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education began at 11.40 a.m.

Members and officers must declare any pecuniary or personal interest in any business on the agenda. They should also make declarations at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting. Consideration should be given to leaving the meeting if the nature of the interest warrants it. If in doubt, contact Democratic Services before the meeting.

87.1     No interests were declared.

Members to agree the minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2020 as a correct record.

88.1     Angela Smith requested that recommendation 5 under minute 82.4 be changed to read ‘That Miss Barker and Mrs Smith be asked to establish a network of RE teachers to support teachers.’ This was agreed.

88.2     Resolved – that, with the amendment to recommendation 5 under minute 82.4, the minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2020 be agreed as a correct record and that they be signed by the Chairman.

SACRE to consider the response from the Director of Education & Skills to the Chairman’s letter asking the Director of Education and Skills and the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills to set the role of SACRE and to ask for confirmation that the Education Service will provide sufficient resources to enable SACRE to carry out its role effectively.

89.1     SACRE members discussed the response from the Director of Education and Skills and felt that SACRE needed a specific budget allocation and more resources.

89.2     Resolved – that SACRE wishes to discuss the results of research by the Department of Education and Skills into the resourcing of other SACREs at its next meeting.

The next scheduled meeting is due to take place on 1 March 2021.

90.1     SACRE noted that its next meeting was scheduled to take place at 10.30am on 1 March 2021.