To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from: Mrs S Catlow-Hawkins; Sr. D O’Donnell and 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 5 July 2010.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held 5 July 2010 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

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

No written questions had been received.

To note the resignation of Rev L Rickards (Free Church representative on Committee A) and that Herefordshire Churches Together has been contacted regarding a replacement member.

Rev L Rickards

The Democratic Services Officer reported that Rev L Rickards, Free Church representative on Committee A, had resigned due to work commitments and that a nomination had been sought from Herefordshire Churches Together.

SACRE thanked Rev Rickards for his contribution to the work of SACRE.

Mrs S McCamley

Mrs Sally McCamely, announced that this would be her last meeting as Primary Sector teacher Member on Committee C as she would be leaving Stoke Prior Primary School at the end of December to take up the post of Deputy Director Schools Officer with the Diocese of Hereford Board of Education.

On behalf of SACRE the Chairman thanked Mrs McCamley for her commitment to education in the County, the promotion of multi-faith events and for her valuable contribution to the work of SACRE over the years.  SACRE wished her continued success in her new post.

RESOLVED that the resignations be noted.

To consider the Religious Studies examination results for the 2010 academic year for Herefordshire.

SACRE considered the Religious Studies examination results for the 2010 academic year for Herefordshire.

The Lead Officer for SACRE presented her report and highlighted a number of strengths in the 2010 examination outcomes namely:

·         An increased number of entries for the GCSE full course;

·         A continued rise in the percentage of high grades gained at GCSE full course;

·         An increased number of entries for A-Level; and

·         A 100% pass rate at A-Level in the school sixth form that offered A-Level.

She commented that the picture was confused by the variations in entry policy in schools for the short or full course examinations.  However, when compared to previous years, the overall picture was good.   She confirmed that all secondary schools had entered pupils for examination.

On considering the results the following principal points were noted:

• SACRE congratulated the high schools, and in particular the John Kyrle High School, on achieving the improved results and requested that the Chairman write to the schools to convey SACREs congratulations.
• SACRE were pleased to note that 69% of candidates at the Hereford Sixth Form College had gained A*-C in Theology.
• while attainment in the short course was below the national average this may be due to the increased numbers taking the full course and that schools were directing high attaining pupils towards the full GCSE examination.
• Questioned whether the increase in performance had been down to any one area of improvement SACRE were informed that the increase was probably due to pupils enjoying the learning experience and the high quality of teaching.

RESOLVED: that the improved results be noted and the Chairman write to the high schools to congratulate them on the improved 2010 Religious Studies results.

To receive a report on the 2010 SACRE Annual Conference held 30^th September, 2010 at Earl Mortimer College, Leominster.

SACRE received a report on the SACRE Annual RE Conference held 30 September 2010 at the new Earl Mortimer College, Leominster.

The Lead Officer for SACRE reported that RE Today had provided an excellent, busy and varied programme that balanced a wealth of practical and creative ideas with opportunities for teachers to discuss and work together.  Feedback from the event evaluation forms indicated that the key note talk had been very highly rated and other sessions had been rated as good or excellent. 

She further reported that staff at the Earl Mortimer College had been most helpful and welcoming.  Thanks to the generosity of the college in hosting the event the conference had been able to stay within budget. 

Through Councillor Brig. P Jones SACRE thanked the Earl Mortimer College for hosting the conference and for helping to make it the success that it had been.  They also thanked the professionals at RE Today for the excellent thought provoking and inspiring presentations/workshops which had been enjoyed by all.

SACRE briefly considered the 2011 conference which for budgetary reasons will have to be combined with a new Agreed Syllabus launch conference earlier in the year.  This would be further debated at the Agreed Syllabus Conference meeting immediately following this meeting.

RESOLVED: that the report be noted.

To comment on the draft SACRE Annual Report for the academic year September 2009 to July 2010 prior to submission to QCDA.

NOTE: The draft report has been issued with the agenda to Members as a separate document.

SACRE considered the draft SACRE Annual Report for the academic year September 2009 to July 2010 prior to submission to QCDA.

The Democratic Services Officer presented the draft for consideration and highlighted that the examination statistics discussed earlier in the meeting, together with any comment made by SACRE, would be added to the report.  He also requested that SACRE provide guidance on any comment it wished to amend or include under the ‘summary’ section.  Members agreed to provide the Democratic Services Officer with any comment within the next few days for consideration.

RESOLVED: That subject to the inclusion of the examination statistics and any suggested commentary under the ‘summary’ section, the Annual Report be approved for submission to QCDA.