To consider plans for further Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to support schools in implementing the syllabus this academic year.

-      Report on Summer conferences

-      Proposals for 2022 Conferences

-      SACRE Member Training

-      Teacher Group Updates and Updates on visitors into schools

-      Diocese Training

The Consultant to SACRE reported on activity already undertaken and future plans for further Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to support schools in implementing the syllabus this academic year.

During discussion the following points were noted:

Report on Summer Conferences and Proposals for 2022 Conferences

·        The two conferences that had been held in the Summer were well received and teachers had given feedback that the information shared would greatly help them in implementing the new syllabus.

·        There had been an increase in the number of teachers from Herefordshire attending the primary school conference but attendance at the three counties secondary school conference had been disappointing.

·        The merits and disadvantages to holding virtual conferences were discussed. In general most members of the council felt that teachers benefited from in person interaction and that virtual meetings were more limiting but were mindful that this needed to be weighed against consideration of costs, ease of attendance and health concerns.

·        A Special Schools Conference would need to wait until funding was confirmed.

·        Teachers in the group offered to include a workshop on early years material and would discuss this further with the Consultant to SACRE ahead of next year’s conferences.

SACRE member training

·        RE today ran SACRE member training but NASACRE’s offering was more feasible because of the cost. The Chair would circulate to members details of the NASACRE training.

Updates on visitors into schools and Teacher Group Updates.

·        A list of useful contacts for visitors into schools was circulated to the Committee. Although SACRE could legally not formally endorse these contacts, they were recommended to members as they had already been into school, knew how to interact with children, could adapt to different age groups and had passed safeguarding checks.

·        There was an RE lead teacher group that was affiliated with NATRE and which met twice last year, with a third meeting at the conference. Members were keen to keep these meetings online as it enabled more of them to attend.

·        The teacher networks had been useful for sharing resources and discussing how they could be developed in individual schools. There was to be a ‘12+ resources of Christmas’ session which members were invited to contribute to.

·        The SACRE newsletter was intended to be a celebration and a showcase for all the RE work being done in Herefordshire schools.

·        The first edition of the newsletter had gone out in early 2021 and had contained information about the forthcoming conferences, the RE quality mark and the spirited arts competition being run by NATRE.

·        A second edition of the SACRE newsletter was planned for after Christmas and any contributions to it would be welcomed.

Diocese Training

·        A wide variety of training was offered by the Diocese including sessions for teachers on their religious views, world views and diversity, refresher training, subject leader training and curriculum design.

·        A fee was charged for the training but was open to all.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the Primary School Conference for 2022, if held jointly with Herefordshire, be held online but the practice then be reviewed for the following year.

2.     That the three counties Secondary School Conference go ahead as planned and be held in person but this be reviewed nearer the time and depending on the Covid situation moved online if necessary.