Apologies for absence were received from Pat Burbidge and Ben Caldicott.

Tracey Westlake acted as a substitute for Ben Caldicott.

There were no declarations of interest at this stage of the meeting; please see minute 27 below.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2018.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting on 9 November 2018 are agreed as a correct record.

There were no public questions.

To receive an update on the 2019/20 SACRE budget.

SACRE received and noted a report concerning its budget for 2019/20. The head of learning and achievement confirmed that an amount of £9,589 the budget covered the operation of SACRE and the review of the agreed syllabus.

To consider the Religious Education examination results for 2018 and note the numbers of students entered for RE GCSE courses.

SACRE received and noted the RE examination results in 2018. The head of learning and achievement introduced the report and raised the following points:

·         The number of pupils taking RE GCSE had been reducing since 2016.

·         The pass rate for grade 5 and above had increased from 2017, from 45 – 51%.

·         Four of the 14 secondary schools in Herefordshire entered the entire year 11 cohort for RE GCSE. Ten secondary schools offered RE GCSE.

·         It was compulsory for schools to provide RE.

·         The pupil progress average points score was negative in the county.

Councillor J Stone declared a other interest in the item concerning RE examination results as a governor of Earl Mortimer College.

The points below were raised in the discussion which followed:

·         It was noted that some schools had experienced a decrease in the number of pupils but results had improved.

·         SACRE noted that pupil progress was measured from key stage two.

·         It was noted that other local authorities in the West Midlands had higher percentages of pupils achieving a grade 5+ average at GCSE.

To receive details of the primary and secondary RE conferences.

SACRE noted arrangements for the secondary and primary conferences to be held on 25 and 26 June respectively. The RE Consultant explained that the primary conference would discuss the agreed syllabus and be publicised on spotlight. The free webinars had been arranged and thanks were offered to Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School for agreeing to host the primary conference.

To consider recent national initiatives and their implications for the teaching of religious education in Herefordshire schools.

SACRE received and noted updates from the RE Consultant’s report of new initiatives in RE.

To note the dates below for meetings of SACRE in 2019/20:

·         15 November 2019

·         20 March 2020

It was noted that the two proposed dates for meetings of SACRE in 2019/20 were not convenient. Alternative dates would be circulated.

The Chairman offered thanks to all the members of SACRE, the RE Consultant and the officers involved in meetings of the group.