To welcome members to SACRE and to receive a thought for the day.

The Chairperson welcomed attendees to the meeting.  With reference made to a visit to South Africa to speak to political groups during its transition from apartheid, the Chairperson recited a verse by Archbishop Desmond Tutu which reflected on the importance of forgiveness.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies had been received from Mark Harrington (a Church of England representative) and Tracey Westlake (Primary school teacher representative).  Apologies were also noted from Pam Howell (School Improvement Advisor, Herefordshire Council).

To receive details of any substitutes nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of SACRE.

There were no substitutes present.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2024.

The minutes of the previous meeting were received.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2024 be confirmed as a correct record and be signed by the Chairperson.

To respond to any written questions from members of the public received in advance of the meeting.

No written questions had been received.

Further to the discussion on the draft model at the previous meeting, to receive an update on progress with the Agreed Syllabus document.

Stephen Pett noted that a draft model had been considered at the previous meeting (minute 6 of 15 November 2024 refers) and outlined the amendments being made; including additional places to visit in the locality and the incorporation of examples of ‘ways of knowing’ / multi-disciplinary approaches.  The working draft was displayed at the meeting and the key changes were explained.

Participants discussed the relevancy of encouraging critical awareness, particularly given the spread of misinformation.

Stephen Pett also highlighted: the additional units on religious and non-religious worldviews (such as the celebration of key festivals), anti-racism, and care for the Earth; and the practical guidance for teachers on building long-term plans for progression.

In response to a question from the Chairperson, Stephen Pett confirmed that work was being undertaken with a neighbouring authority to develop a new syllabus to embed fully the religion and worldviews, and ways of knowing approaches.

There was a brief discussion about opportunities to draw attention to diversity within belief systems.

To discuss the primary launch; the conference is scheduled for 10 July 2025.  The updated primary RE conference 2025 flyer is attached.

Stephen Pett reported that the Primary Conference would take place at The Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School and outlined the programme for the event.

Link to the flyer ‘Launching the revised Herefordshire RE Syllabus - Primary, Thursday 10 July 2025’.

To discuss the secondary launch; the conference is scheduled for 25 June 2025.  An updated flyer will be circulated for the meeting.

Stephen Pett reported that the Secondary Conference would take place at the University of Worcester, with the joint launch of the Herefordshire and the Worcestershire syllabuses, and outlined the programme for the event.

Link to the flyer ‘Launching the revised Worcestershire and Herefordshire RE Agreed Syllabuses - Secondary, Wednesday 25 June 2025’.

To receive national RE updates for SACRE from RE Today.

It was reported that, following the Department for Education’s call for evidence for the Curriculum Review, an interim report had been published.

Link to the ‘Curriculum and Assessment Review: Interim Report, March 2025’.

Stephen Pett advised the meeting that, in terms of RE, under the heading ‘Subjects not on the national curriculum’ (page 29), the interim report recognised that ‘…evidence suggests that a lack of national agreed content standards has led to national disparities in the quality of provision’ and that the Review was to consider related points before publishing its final report.

To consider school workforce data and results.  The available details will be circulated to SACRE members separately.

A spreadsheet document, ‘2025 Herefordshire School Workforce Data and GCSE results’, was circulated to SACRE members in advance of the meeting.

It was reported that data was collected by the Department for Education (DfE) through the school workforce census but inconsistencies in subject titles and submissions by schools could distort the statistics.

There was a discussion about the robustness of the information presented for Herefordshire and the potential role of SACRE to seek clarifications from the schools.

The Chairperson commented on the need to explore how and why the data was being produced, and how it should be utilised, before undertaking any follow-up activity.

To consider SACRE dates for 2025/26, provisionally:

Friday 11 July 2025, 2.00 pm

Friday 14 November 2025, 2.00 pm

Friday 27 March 2026, 2.00 pm

The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Friday 11 July 2025, 2.00 pm.

It was requested that the suggested dates of subsequent meetings be reviewed to facilitate attendance by more participants, perhaps by scheduling meetings on different weekdays and times.