To consider the findings contained in the OfSTED report “Making Sense of Religion: a report on religious education in schools and the impact of locally agreed syllabi”.

SACRE considered the findings contained in the OfSTED report “Making Sense of Religion: a report on religious education in schools and the impact of locally agreed syllabi”.  A copy of the OfSTED press release had been printed in the agenda and copies of the full report had been sent with the agenda to members.

The OfSTED report found that “some progress had been made in enhancing the provision for religious education in recent years. Pupils’ achievement had improved. Developments nationally have contributed substantially to this improvement, but the overall quality of RE is still not consistently high enough”.  A number of recommendations for consideration by the DFES, QCA, and schools were included in the report.  Recommendations for local authorities and SACRE’s related to how they need to consider ways in which SACREs could be better supported to enable them to fulfil their responsibilities effectively; use the Framework rigorously in reviewing their agreed syllabus and consider how the work of SACREs might support further promotion of community cohesion and educating for diversity.

The Consultant for Religious Education commented upon the compilation of the report; some of the reasoning behind the recommendations; how the Herefordshire Agreed Syllabus already picked up on issues from the non-statutory Framework; the opportunities for SACRE, particularly in the area of contributing to community cohesion, and the need for SACRE to be adequately resourced.

Following discussion on the under achievement of boys and in particular para 29 of the main report concerning getting boys engaged in the subject, it was noted that GCSE courses were to be revised to make the subject more challenging.  Discussion then lead to the need for trained and enthusiastic teachers to be adequately resourced and equipped with a relevant breadth of experience to motivate the pupils in the subject.

Reference was made to the earlier agenda item and presentation by Wigmore High School students concerning SACREs opportunity to contribute to community cohesion by means of widening pupils understanding of other faiths to dispel any misconceptions or stereotyping of other cultures.

Rev I Terry circulated at the meeting copies of the Church of England’s response to the OfSTED report.  The Church of England concurred with OfSTED’s concern about the variable quality of locally agreed syllabuses; strongly supported a statutory national Framework/Curriculum Order/Syllabus for RE; strongly endorsed the continuing role of SACRE’s in relation to supporting and monitoring RE locally and recognised the continuing areas of weakness and concern highlighted by OfSTED and called on the Government to give serious consideration to implementing both OfSTED’s recommendations and also the related recommendations in the RE Council’s recently published RE National Strategy.

The Chairman reiterated the need for local input to the RE Syllabus and concurred with the view that, given the resources, the work of SACRE could contribute to the community cohesion agenda.

RESOLVED That

a)      the OfSTED report “Making Sense of Religion: a report on religious education in schools and the impact of locally agreed syllabi” be noted; and

b)     the recommendations contained in the report concerning local authorities and SACREs be considered as part of the ongoing review of the SACRE Development Plan.