Apologies were received from Mrs C Ault, Mrs C Wolfe, Mrs S Catlow-Hawkins and Ms K Mayglothling.

Ms V Avery substituted for Ms K Mayglothling and Mr P Hulme substituted for Mrs C Ault.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2015.

The Minutes of the Meeting held on the 20 March 2015 were approved and signed as a correct record.

There were no written public questions.

To review the feedback from the Agreed Syllabus launch conferences in May and June 2015, and to consider arrangements for the 2016 conferences and other opportunities for supporting the implementation of the new agreed syllabus

The Chairman welcomed Councillors EL Harvey and Councillor MT McEvilly to their first meeting of the committee.

The Chairman confirmed that he had attended both the Primary and Secondary School launch in May and June this year.

A discussion took place around the 2015 conferences with the following points made:

·         It was pleasing to see that over 60 teachers had attended the Primary school conference.

·         The Committee was grateful to Whitecross School for hosting the Conference.

·         The Chairman and Committee thanked the Religious Education consultant for organising both conferences.

·         Further links were being developed with Worcester with a view to developing a common syllabus for both Hereford and Worcester.

·         The syllabus had been well received by key stage 3 students and compliments the Primary School curriculum.

·         The feedback received was that both conferences had been well received and had been enjoyable experiences for those attending.

Suggestions were invited for next year’s conference with a speaker’s corner idea to be explored.

Next year’s Primary conference venue was likely to be Whitecross School whilst the Secondary School conference was likely to be a joint conference with Worcester and would be held at Bank House, Bransford.

In response to a members request that other faiths are included in future conferences, the RE Consultant confirmed that this could be done possibly as a feature in the speakers’ corner idea.

 A member raised a question regarding the inclusion of special school provision on future curriculum. It was confirmed that this was still on the agenda and an update would be provided at the next meeting.

 A short discussion took place around British values with a view that delivery on the subject could be made through the religious education curriculum.

Resolved: That the updated report be noted.

To comment on the draft SACRE Annual report for the academic year September 2014 to July 2015

SACRE received the Annual report on the Herefordshire academic year 2014/15 with the following points raised:

·         Acknowledged that there were limited resources available.

·         Possibility of a survey  both on line and at the next conference with a view that feedback from teachers was essential to both develop the curriculum and raise student performance results. 

Resolved: That the report be noted.

To consider the Religious Studies examination results for 2015.

SACRE received the Religious Studies examination results for 2015.

It was noted that the data presented was provisional and that no national figures were available.

 The following points were raised by SACRE:

·         A pleasing upward trend was noted in the take up of the subject

·         The inclusion of national figures in future reports would be welcome for benchmarking purposes.

·         There was some concern regarding data gaps, and it was confirmed that these would be investigated.

·         A decline in achievement was noted.

·         That the relevant website required updating

Resolved:  That a report on exam results be made available to members at the next SACRE meeting.

To receive a verbal report on the Service held in Hereford Cathedral on 20 September 2015 to mark the UN International Day of Peace.

A verbal report on the United Nations International Day of Peace held in Hereford Cathedral on the 20 September 2015 was received.  The following comments were made:

·         A further event was planned for 2016

·         More representatives from other faiths would be welcomed

·         International Women’s Day would be celebrated on 5 March 2016, although a venue had yet to be confirmed.

Resolved: That arrangement be made to invite dignitaries to future International days.

SACRE received a report on recent national initiatives and their implications for the teaching of religious education in Herefordshire schools.

Resolved:

That:

a)    the report be noted;

b)    the Chairman write to the two local Members of Parliament for Herefordshire to encourage them to sign the pledge ‘Make Religious Education flourish’; and;

c)    Local Members sign a County pledge ‘Make Religious Education flourish’.

To note that the next SACRE meeting will be held at 2.00pm at the Shire Hall, Hereford on Friday 18 March 2016.

It was noted that the date of the next meeting would be the 18 March 2015.