BOROUGH OF POOLE

STANDING ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

12th JULY 2011

The Meeting started at 4:08pm and finished at 5:40pm.

Present:

Group A:Revd. Caroline Vodden – Free Church

Sarah Tempest – Baha’i Faith

Penny Estall – Quakers

Malkit Panesar – Sikhism

Group B:Mr Derek Holloway – Church of England

Mr John Sharpe – St Aldhelm’s Academy

Group C:Angela Muir – Special Schools

Group D:Councillor Meachin

Councillor Wilkins (substitute)

Also in attendance:

Jan Lever, Jan Lever Education Consultancy Limited

Louise Saill, Democratic Support Officer, Legal and Democratic Services

At 16:30 the Meeting was joined by Bournemouth Representatives:

Group A:Sue Sedgley – Budhist

Group B:Derek Holloway – Church of England

Group C:Alison Harris – Bournemouth Schools

Group D:Councillor Chappel

Also in attendance:

Rubina Nasser, Bournemouth Borough Council

  1. ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED that Derek Holloway be elected Chairman of SACRE for the ensuing Municipal Year.

  1. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED that Angela Muir be elected Vice Chairman of SACRE for the ensuing Municipal Year.

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mrs Butt (substituted by Councillor Wilkins), Lynda Ford-Horne and Dave Rees.

  1. WELCOME AND OPENING REFLECTION

Introductions were made and the Chairman welcomed Councillor Wilkins to the Meeting. The Chairman then showed a slide show to the Meeting that was accompanied by music about religions.

  1. MINUTES

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 15th March 2011, having previously been circulated, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to the following amendment:

the addition of Penny Estall to the attendees list of Group A.

  1. MATTERS ARISING

The Chairman informed SACRE that letters had been sent to local MPs from Bournemouth and Poole SACRE setting out its disapproval to Religious Education (RE) being excluded from the proposed English Baccalaureate. It was noted that a final decision on this qualification and its contents had not yet been made although Government had confirmed that it was not its intention to ignore RE but that it was trying to promote History in schools. SACRE thought this was a very weak case. The Government had recognised that members from many different faith communities had written in to object to this which, it was hoped, would lead to a change of decision.

SACRE was informed that consultation on the Inspection Framework for RE was being undertaken and that the provision of the RE taught was to be inspected. SACRE welcomed this move as it felt inspecting the provision of RE was a much more appropriate and accurate method of assessment.

Member of Bournemouth SACRE joined the Meeting.

  1. INTRODUCTION TO “EnquiRE Within”

Jan Lever of Jan Lever Education Consultancy Limited, provided SACRE with an introduction to the new proposed joint syllabus, “EnquiRE Within”.

The Presentation included the following:

  • The aim of the agreed Syllabus was to provide a structure to support teachers to plan and deliver high quality RE that engaged pupils in relevant questioning and exploration of their own and others beliefs, ethics, philosophies and religions.
  • It was hoped that this enquiry would enable and encourage the progression of thinking skills as well as pupils spiritual and moral development, and thus promote respect for themselves and others.
  • SACRE was informed that an effective agreed syllabus would cover:
  • Learning processes;
  • Breadth of study; and
  • Attainment and process.

The Chairman thanked Ms Lever for her presentation and the completion of reviewing and updating the syllabus. SACRE Members were all in agreement that the new agreed Syllabus was an excellent piece of work. Ms Lever informed SACRE that she and Dave Rees were currently working on work to accompany the syllabus. SACRE was also informed that assessment would be an ongoing process with pupils assisting by reviewing their own progress.

SACRE was informed that the next stage would be to support the delivery of the Syllabus into schools. It was planned to produce a memory stick that would be full of resources and make it available to teachers for their use.

  1. POOLE AGREED SYLLABUS CONFERENCE

A Poole Agreed Syllabus Conference was convenedand recommended to Poole SACRE and to the Poole Local Authority that it adopt the Syllabus “EnquiRE Within” as its agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

RESOLVED that Poole SACRE recommend to the Poole Local Authority that they adopt the Syllabus “EnquiRE Within” as its agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

  1. BOURNEMOUTH AGREED SYLLABUS CONFERENCE

A Bournemouth Agreed Syllabus Conference was convened and recommended to Bournemouth SACRE and to the Bournemouth Local Authority that they adopt the Syllabus “EnquiRE Within” as its agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

RESOLVED that Bournemouth SACRE recommend to the Bournemouth Borough Council that it adopt the Syllabus “EnquiRE Within” as its agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

CHAIRMAN

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