To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from: Mr P Bowen, Mrs J Brown, Ms K Mayglothling, Mrs S McCamley, Mr M Rollnick, Mr Z. Pandor.

To receive details any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

There were no named substitutes.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 2nd July 2007.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held 2nd July 2007 be approved and signed by the Chairman.

To answer any pre-received written questions from members of the public.

No written questions had been received.

To receive an overview of the Children and Yong People’s Plan for Herefordshire.

SACRE received an overview of the Children and Young People’s Plan for Herefordshire.

Philippa Granthier, Business Manager – Children’s Trust, informed Members of the arrangements to move to a Children’s Trust and the governance arrangements to support this move. 

She also reported that the current Children and Young People’s Plan would run until March 2008. The Council as lead partner has a duty to ensure that a new plan is put in place.  The new plan will run from April 2008 to March 2011 and will be the one, overarching strategic document for children and young people in the County. It will lay out what the priorities for improvement should be in Herefordshire, based on a needs assessment exercise drawn from data on children and young people in the County along with areas highlighted from the Annual Performance Assessment and discussions with Government Office for the West Midlands.

The plan will need to lay out the intended outcomes for children and young people to improve their well-being which is defined by the five Every Child Matters outcomes of being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well-being. The plan will also need to cover all children and young people aged 0-19, young people aged 20 leaving care and up to 25 for those with learning difficulties.

This strategic document will be supported by an annual delivery plan, which will contain the detailed actions that will be undertaken to achieve the intended outcomes.

The draft plan was currently being written.  A number of emerging priorities for Herefordshire were emerging and these, together with further details of the consultation to be undertaken, were contained in her report, copies of which were circulated at the meeting.  Consultation on the draft plan would end in March 2008.

SACRE noted that while the Local Area Agreement with the government contained an element of grant funding for Children and Young People, no new resources were anticipated to support the objectives, rather, as a strategic document it would direct the use of current resources by the Council and its partners.

SACRE further noted that the plan was principally directed by government guidance, particularly by the Every Child Matters agenda, and therefore while a child’s emotional needs may be reflected in the plan the child’s spiritual needs may not. 

In view of the detailed consideration needed to respond to the high-level strategic document it was suggested that a small group be formed to undertake a review of the draft document and report their suggested comments to the March 2008 meeting.  SACRE could then decide whether to formally recommend the comments to the Local Authority.

RESOLVED: that

a)      Miss L Langstaff, Revd I Terry and the Chairman, Councillor J Stone, assisted by the Consultant for RE, consider the draft Children and Young People’s Plan and report their suggested comments to the March 2008 meeting; and

b)     At the March 2008 meeting SACRE will debate the suggested comments of the group and consider  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

To receive a report on the 2007 Multi-faith event held on 25th & 26th September 2007 and to consider the possibility of a future event.

SACRE received a report on the 2007 Multi-faith event held on 25th and 26th September 2007 and considered the possibility of holding a future event.

The Consultant for RE reported that the 160 ten and eleven year old pupils from 16 primary schools across the county had taken part in a multi-faith conference to learn about Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism. The 2 day event held on the 25th and 26th September took place at Holmer CE Primary School, Hereford and was five times over-subscribed.   

She reported that the children met people from different non-Christian faith communities and learnt about their religions by getting involved in creative workshops including music, art, dance, story telling and role-play of the way other people celebrate their faith.

The conference had been organised by a partnership between the Herefordshire Multi faith Development Group members and Holmer primary school, with grant funding from the Herefordshire Local Network Fund.  Excellent and inspiring                                     workshop leaders came from across the country.   Judy Cecil, head teacher at Holmer primary school and event organiser, wanted as many children as possible to share in the day and used ICT to do this.  Video conferencing was used to enable two other primary schools to share in aspects of the event.  A film crew made up of Year 6 children from Holmer school, together with their teacher captured the event and worked hard to put together ‘Photostories’.  These were shown during the ‘Celebrate and Share’ assembly at the end of the day. Excerpts were shown to SACRE at the meeting and are available on the web at www.hereford-edu.org.uk.

The Consultant for RE commented that the Children had really enjoyed the workshops that combined activities with spirituality.  They had been intrigued by the way calligraphy and Rangoli patterns were not just shapes and patterns, but how these expressed deeper beliefs.  They were fascinated by the meaning of the traditional dress of a Sikh and enjoyed the reflective experience of Sikh music. They noticed how belief in one God (the same God!) was central to the lives of all four faiths despite each person seeming very different on the surface.  She further commented that in future events it would be good to have more time to understand the things which matter most (the spirituality, values and beliefs) to the person representing each faith and to use strategies and activities (such as the RE Today Commitment Game) to support reflection and to enable children to ask questions and think about their own response.

SACRE noted that the 2007 event had cost £4,500 and had benefited from a lot of voluntary help. 

Since the event St James’ CE Primary School, Kimbolton, had organised their own multi-faith day in which Zac Pandor, Maurice Rollnick and Daxa Mehta had lead teaching sessions. 

In relation to a further event the Consultant for RE was pleased to announce that funding from the Local Community Fund was enabling a similar multi-faith event, run by the Herefordshire Multi Faith Development Group, to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To report the Religious Education examination results for pupils in Herefordshire.

SACRE considered the Religious Education examination results for pupils in Herefordshire.

In response to the Religious Studies 2005-2007 statistics set out at appendix 1 in the agenda the Primary School Improvement Manager presented the following comments:

1.      Over the last 3 years there had been a significant shift in exam entry patterns with schools moving away from short course GCSE entry to full course GCSE entry.

2.      The number of entries for the full GCSE course continued to rise significantly.  There were 631 candidates in 2007 compared to 413 in 2006 and 365 in 2005.  In 2007, two schools entered almost all their students for the full course rather than the short course exam.

3.      The number of entries for the short GCSE course continued to drop.  There were 677 candidates in 2007, compared to 855 in 2006 and 1002 in 2005.

4.      There are three schools that enter relatively few candidates for a GCSE examination.

5.      The percentage of students gaining grades in A* - C in the full course GCSE exam in 2007 was 60%, a significant drop from 79% in 2006 and 2005, and significantly below the national % (69%) for the first time.

6.      The percentage of students gaining Grades A* - C on the short course GCSE exam in 2007 dropped to 44% from the 51% in 2006 and in line with the 44% in 2005.  Standards attained on the short course are below the national average (52%).

7.      The percentage of students gaining grades A* - G in the full course GCSE exam in 2007 was 97% a dip from the 100% of 2006 and 2005.

8.      The percentage of students gaining grades A* - G in the short course GCSE exam has risen slightly to 95% in 2007 from 94% in 2006 and 93% in 2005. 

9.      In 2007 the results were variable across Herefordshire schools.  Eight schools had a percentage A* - C pass rates significantly above the national average; three schools had a significant drop in the percentage A* - C pass rate and also in their percentage A* - G pass rate.  In one of the three schools the results in Religious Studies were significantly below other subjects.

10.  In two of the three schools where the percentage A* - C pass and the percentage A* - G pass for the full course GCSE was below average and appeared to have dropped significantly, the change in entry numbers from short to full GCSE exam was also significant.  Both schools switched from entering the majority of their students to the full GCSE course exam for the first time.  The difference in number was 263 additional candidates from the previous year (2006).

11.  One of the three schools had a large entry for the short course and the percentage of A* - C passes dropped significantly in 2007.

In relation to (9) above SACRE noted that while 8 high Schools had performed above average unfortunately 3 had performed significantly below the average  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

To report upon the annual programme of INSET training.

SACRE considered the programme of INSET training for 2008.

The Consultant for RE reported that while two courses had been offered by the Local Authority in 2007, take up of those courses had been extremely poor and therefore the coursed had not been run. The Diocese had successfully run a limited number of courses and therefore the Consultant would work in collaboration with the Diocese to offer a limited course programme for 2008.

The Diocesan Director of Education commented that the Diocese were looking to widen the collaborative involvement by working with Worcestershire authorities and Worcestershire University.

With the ever-increasing pressure on schools to provide a broader inclusive curriculum, SACRE hoped that schools, particularly those that had not in the past attended any RE courses, would take up the chance to attend.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To receive a report on the SACRE Annual Conference 2007.

SACRE received a report on the SACRE Annual Conference 2007.

The Chairman reported that the 2007 SACRE annual Conference had been very successful and thanked Joyce Mackley, Consultant for RE, for all her work in organising the event. He also thanked the pupils and teachers at Wigmore High and Stoke Prior Primary Schools for their excellent presentations.

The Consultant for RE expressed her disappointment that the attendance numbers had been down on previous years.  She circulated at the meeting examples of the comments received on the course evaluation sheets, which also indicated a successful event.

The 2007 Conference had been held at Hedley Lodge, Belmont on Thursday 27th September.  The aims of the conference had been: to support teachers in the delivery of quality RE and the improvement of pupils achievement; to support the implementation of the revised 2006 Herefordshire Agreed Syllabus and to bring together all those with an interest in developing RE in Herefordshire for discussion and the sharing of ideas.

The theme of the conference had been to provide teachers with the opportunity of meeting and learning from faith community members from Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism, as well as hearing from pupils in two schools, one primary and one secondary, where RE had come alive through the use of imaginative strategies.

All of the workshop leaders had worked with children from Herefordshire schools at the multi-faith event at Holmer school on the two days preceding the conference. 

The workshops were on the themes of:

Jewish Education Workshop KS1-2 -  Activities involved song, movement, drama and Jewish artefacts linked to the Herefordshire Agreed Syllabus for engaging children aged 5-11 in learning about and from Judaism, with a focus on what teachers can do and what children can do.  This workshop was run by Jane Silver Corren who is a Jewish educator with 15 year‘s experience of teaching Judaism in schools and community groups including people with learning difficulties.

Islamic Art Workshop for all key stages  -A practical hands on session on Islamic Art.  Teachers were able to have a go at Arabic Calligraphy and consider how to make it meaningful in the classroom.  The workshop looked at what other schools have done and explored how Art can be used as an inroad to a faith.    Razwan Ul Haq, who is an ex-Head and LEA Advisor, ran this workshop. Currently he is working as an Islamic Artist and author of spiritual fiction and non-fiction books on inner meaning of Islam.

Hinduism Workshop - In this workshop teachers were introduced to Hindu personal/family deities and the concept of Karma through the making of Rangoli Patterns. Reference was made to relevant activities used in other schools to help children explore aspects of Hinduism.  The workshop was run by Bhartiben Tailor who is a Diversity Consultant and a Hindu Chaplain. She is on the Chaplaincy Steering Group of the Hindu Forum of Britain.

Sikh education workshop - This workshop provided: a personal encounter with oneself, an insight  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

To suggest proposals for a SACRE Annual Conference 2008.

SACRE considered proposals for a SACRE Annual Conference in 2008.

During consideration of possible themes for the 2008 SACRE conference the following comments were noted:

• Advice on how RE was integral to all aspects of the curriculum e.g. citizenship, behaviour.  However, it was suggested that RE should be the driver for other subjects.
• Attractions of teaching RE with Trevor Cooling as a possible key note speaker.
• With constant changes to the curriculum and the inclusion of specific elements the actual teaching of RE, which should already encompass citizenship, ethics, behaviour etc, was being marginalised.
• It may be possible for the students studying Citizenship and Ethics at Whitecross High School to be involved in a presentation.
• The possibility of linking the conference to elements of the Children and Young Peoples Plan could be explored.
•  The possibility of linking the conference to elements in the new secondary curriculum – RE, could be explored.
• Professor Terrance Copley, Oxford University, was suggested as a key note speaker.

RESOLVED: That the Consultant for RE consider the suggestions and report to the next meeting.

To receive an update on the Secondary Curriculum launched in July 2007.

SACRE noted the briefing paper contained in the agenda on the New Secondary Curriculum – RE, launched in July 2007.

The Consultant for RE reported that Heads and RE subject leaders had been informed of the regional conference which would be held in Birmingham early in the New Year and, to date, one Head from the County was registered to attend.

RESOLVED: that the report be noted.

To receive an update on progress relating to the Collective Worship guidance ‘Finding Treasure’.

SACRE received an update on progress relating to the Collective Worship guidance ‘Finding Treasure’.

SACRE noted that by now around 90% of schools in the County had the guidance and already requests for copies had been received from other authorities.  Three training sessions for governors and worship co-ordinators would be held during February/March at Kingsland CE Primary; St Paul’s CE Primary and at Whitchurch CE Primary schools which would provide practical help in implementing the guidance. While the guidance had been principally written for primary schools many elements were applicable to the secondary sector.

SACRE further noted that a good degree of positive feed back had been received by the Children’s Services Directorate following the distribution of the guidance.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To comment on the draft SACRE Annual Report for the academic year September 2006 to July 2007 prior to submission to QCA.

SACRE commented on the draft SACRE Annual Report for the academic year September 2006 to July 2007 prior to its submission to QCA.

The Democratic Services Officer reported that following the piloting of a new report format earlier in the year no further guidance had been received from QCA and therefore the current report format had been followed.  Earlier in the meeting the Religious Education examination results were debated and commentary from the report and debate would be included in the report.

RESOLVED: That subject to the insertion of commentary on the RE examination results and final proof reading the SACRE Annual Report 2006/07 be submitted to QCA.

To note that the next meeting is scheduled for 2.00pm on Monday 3rd March 2008 at Brockington, 35 Hafod Road, Hereford.

Members noted that the next meeting was scheduled for 2.00 pm on Monday 3rd March 2008 at Brockington, 35 Hafod Road, Hereford.

SACRE requested that consideration be given to making the December 2008 meeting slightly earlier in the diary to avoid any clash with school Christmas events.

The Chairman decided to allow this late item on the grounds that due to the date of the conference it would not be expedient to hold a further meeting to consider the item.

The Chairman reported that notice had just been received of a National Conference for SACRE members on the theme of ‘Religious education and community cohesion’ to be held Thursday 17th January 2008 at Bloomsbury, London.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Brig P Jones CBE attend the conference on behalf of Herefordshire SACRE.