Apologies were received from Angela Daniel and Kate Mayglothling.

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

None.

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

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

None.

To receive a presentation on the religious studies examination results for 2015.

SACRE received a presentation on the religious studies results for 2015 from the lead officer. 

Resolved: That the report be noted.

To receive a verbal report on the 2016/17 SACRE budget.

SACRE noted that the budget for 2016/17 would be £5,000.  The budget had remained unchanged from the previous year.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

To receive a report on plans for professional development in 2016 and 2017.

SACRE noted a report on plans for professional development in 2016.  During the discussion, the following points were made:

·         That the 2016 primary school RE Conference would be held at Whitecross School on the 8^th June, and would build on the launch of the agreed syllabus for RE in 2015.  The day would follow one held in Worcester on the 7^th, and as the counties had the same syllabus, schools should be able to attend one or other of the events.

·         The secondary school conference would be held, in association with Worcestershire, at the Bank Hotel, Bransford.

·         That there might be scope for doing a session on British values at the conferences in 2017. The initial meeting to plan the conference would be held at Whitecross on the 1 July, and the matter would be discussed at that meeting.

·         It was agreed that there should be a strategy group meeting in July. Members who volunteered to join the group included Mrs Ault, Mrs Barker, Councillor EPH Harvey, The Venerable Tsuiltrim Tenzin Choesang and Mrs Williams.

Resolved:

a)    That the report be noted; and;

b)    The strategy group would meet on a date in July, yet to be agreed, at Whitecrosss School

To consider a report on recent national reports and their implications for the teaching of religious education in Herefordshire schools.

SACRE noted a report on new initiatives in RE. 

Resolved: That the report be noted.

To consider the invitation of dignitaries and faith representatives to the celebration of the United Nations International Day of Peace 2016 to be held in Hereford Cathedral in September 2016.

SACRE noted a report on the United Nations International Day of Peace.  During the ensuing discussion the following points were made:

·         That the celebrations for International Woman’s Day had been very successful, and it was possible that the event would be run in the future as a charity in its own right, rather than under the aegis of the Herefordshire Interfaith Group.

·         This year, the Peace Day Service would be held on the 25^th September at 5.30pm. 

·         SACRE was asked to suggest individuals to be invited to the event.

·         It was envisaged that there would be a One World Week in 2017 in place of the Peace Day service.

Resolved: That the report be noted

To note that the dates of the next meetings of SACRE will be 18 November 2016 and 17 March 2017 at 2pm in Committee Room 1 in the Shire Hall, Hereford.

It was noted that the dates of future meetings were the 18 November 2016 and the 17 March 2017.  Both meetings would be held in Committee Room 1, the Shire Hall, Hereford.