There were no apologies.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 March 2020.

The Chairperson requested clarification regarding the appointment of the Chairperson until May 2023 and if this would leave a long period between the May and November meeting where there was no Chairperson in post. The clerk to the meeting explained that the appointment of the Chairperson ran concurrently with the term of the Council. The position of a Chairperson following the May 2023 elections in advance of SACRE in the November of 2023 would be looked into and clarified with the Chairperson.  

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting on 12 March are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairperson.

To review the agreed syllabus online launch, and to consider plans for further CPD to support schools in implementing the syllabus this academic year.

SACRE received and noted an update from the RE consultant concerning plans for professional development in 2021. The RE consultant explained the number of schools that had registered for the implementing the new syllabus conference; schools were being chased to attend the conference. It was explained that a steer was sought from SACRE as to whether the primary and secondary conferences should be conducted separately. The outline for the summer conference was raised and details of planning for the special education needs (SEN) RE conference were provided.

During the course of the debate the following principal points were raised:

·         The separation of primary and secondary conferences was felt to be a good suggestion.

·         It was felt that it was a sensible approach to ensure all conferences and events were online, until at least July 2021, to take account of the pandemic.

·         It was requested that an update be circulated to members of SACRE in January with the number of schools that had attended the syllabus implementation course.

·         It was urged that the recording of the session be made available to other schools which had been unable to attend the session.

·         SACRE suggested possible Muslim attendees to the July conference including the Imam from Craven Arms and the recent attendee to the multi-faith days.

·         It was requested that involvement of the Chairperson in the meetings between the consultant and Gloucestershire SEN teachers was facilitated.    

To comment and agree the SACRE Annual report for the academic year September 2019 – July 2020

SACRE considered a report by the RE consultant which contained the annual report for the academic year September 2019 – July 2020. The RE consultant introduced the report and explained that it provided a summary of the work of SACRE in the previous academic year.

During the course of the debate the following principal points were raised:

·         It was requested that the detail in the report be updated to clarify that pupils received assessed grades in GCSE RE. The Head of Learning and Achievement would provide detail to the RE Consultant to include in the report.  

·         It was felt that the presentation of the annual report could be enhanced with the inclusion of pictures.

RESOLVED: That

(a)  The SACRE Annual Report 2019/20 is approved: and

(b)  The clerk to SACRE is authorised to finalise the document to take account of any comments by SACRE and final proof reading, and to publicise/circulate the report as necessary.

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

SACRE received and noted an update from the RE consultant which provided details of recent national initiatives in RE and their implications for the teaching of RE in Herefordshire schools.

During the course of the debate the following principal points were raised:

·         Ms Westlake provided an update on the work of the local NATRE group and the intention for the next 2 meetings.

·         The information concerning interfaith week should be shared with all schools.

·         It was felt that a discussion of the black lives matter protests would be appropriate through RE lessons and that the anti-racist RE detail should also be shared with schools.

·         Work to understand and define the teaching of worldviews, as a proposal to replace the teaching of RE, was ongoing and an update could be provided to the March meeting.

To receive an introduction from Chris Giles, Regional Ambassador for NATRE about his role and a request for support from SACRE members for RE teachers particularly with artefacts, resources and places of worship in Herefordshire which is for a new RE Hub/Website produced by RE Today and funded by St.Peter's Saltley Trust.

SACRE received and noted a presentation from the Regional Ambassador for the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE). The Regional Ambassador explained his role and provided detail of an initiative he was engaged upon to compile a list of local religious contacts and places of worship in Herefordshire. The work was part of the project to establish a new RE hub and resources website in the West Midlands. Any lists or databases of contacts used by teachers were requested to help compile the resource hub.

During the course of the debate the following principal points were raised:

·         A number of members explained that they held lists of contacts and places of worship which they could share to assist the initiative.

·         The religious and cultural resources available from Oxfam in Malvern was raised.

·         The boxes of artefacts available from the Museum and Library in Hereford were raise.

·         It was request that an update on progress with the project be provided to the March meeting.

To receive any updates on religious education in Herefordshire from members of SACRE.

The following updates were provided:

·         Planning for the Peace Service was outlined and the possibility that its return to the Cathedral might be delayed until 2022.

·         Free sessions that had taken place concerning creative RE were highlighted and the focus of sessions on core beliefs.

·         The potential inclusion of a representative of the Humanist faith in the membership of SACRE was raised. At the next meeting a review of the membership of SACRE was requested to include detail of the inclusion of Humanist representatives in SACREs in other regions and statistics concerning identification with faiths across Herefordshire.

·         Existing SACRE members with Quaker, Muslim and Sikh contacts locally would approach potential faith representatives to determine interest in membership.    

The next meeting of SACRE will be held on 12 March 2021 at 2.00 p.m.

The next meeting of SACRE was scheduled for 2.00 p.m. on 12 March 2021.