Dear Father,

We thank You for everyone here and we ask for Your blessing and help as we are gathered together.

Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, guide us and inspire our hearts.

Fill our lives with Your love and Fill our conversations with Your grace and truth.

We ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen

The opening prayer was read by Mr Andreas Menzies.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Rutland SACRE held on 17 March 2016.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Rutland SACRE held on the 17^th March 2016, copies of which had been previously circulated, were confirmed and signed by the Chair following an amendment to Item 3.4 which would be amended from ‘Philosophy and Ethics give me…’ to  “Philosophy and Ethics give me…”

SACRE: Actions from meeting held 17^th March 2016

1.    Appendix A of the Rutland SACRE Annual Report 2014/2015 had been updated, corrected and presented to the Children’s Scrutiny Panel on 28^th April 2016.

2.    Carol Snell confirmed that the Rutland Branch of the NUT has been disbanded.

AGREED:

1. Mrs Snodin to contact Leicestershire NUT to find out who is the designated NUT representative for Rutland and to invite them to future SACRE meetings.

ACTION: Mrs Snodin

Agenda Item 12 was discussed at Miss Waller’s request to tie in with Action No 3

3.    Miss Waller reported she had written to Lord Nash in March 2016 and that he had responded on 22 April 2016, a copy of which had been circulated, Miss Waller was pleased to see that the Government did not have any plans to remove the duty on local authorities to establish a SACRE.  However, as the majority of Rutland Schools now have academy status, the group debated the point of SACRE given that academies do not have to follow the approved local syllabus.  The point was made that Rutland is likely to be the first county to be all Academy and therefore the first SACRE in this position though Mr Sharpe commented there were likely to be other counties in a similar situation.   Miss Waller said this was a good point and that she would look into which other local authorities are Academised.  Miss Waller further suggested that we wait until the dust has settled and we know who the new Ministerial team would be, and if it were not Lord Nash she would write to the new incumbent. Also a new Chief Inspector of Schools is due in post in January 2017 which may impact on the current Contract.   Mr Sharpe said we should review whether it was a good idea to write to the HMCIS at the next meeting.  In the meantime Miss Waller would draft a new letter in anticipation of a new Minister of State for Education.

AGREED:

1.    Miss Waller would make enquiries regarding which other local authorities are academised.

2.    Miss Waller to draft a letter in anticipation of the current administration being replaced when the new Prime Minister takes Office.

ACTION: Miss Waller

Agenda Item 7 was discussed to tie in with Action No. 4

4.    The results of the school survey had been circulated prior to the meeting.  Responses had been received from 7 schools and feedback was positive although no secondary schools had responded.  There was discussion about how to take these results forward.  All responders requested training and support in assessment in Religious Education. Ms Katy Walker has asked the Diocese to do some work on assessment.  Should SACRE be providing training?  Mrs Crellin felt SACRE’s role was signposting rather than provider though this is clearly where the need is. Miss Waller said she would contact Francis or Miranda from the Diocese about training.  Dr Sharif was tasked with setting up an initial networking meeting for late September for RE teachers and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Presentation from Andreas Menzies on the NASACRE Annual Conference 2016 held on Tuesday, 17^th May 2016 at Central Hall Westminster, London

Mr Andreas Menzies attended the NASACRE Annual Conference on 17^th May 2016.  He supplied a written summary of the Conference and fed back to the members on what he felt had been the outcome of the Conference.  This led to discussions on whether our current syllabus was all-encompassing as per Government Guidelines and the lack of foundation courses for those wishing to train as RE teachers.  Mr Menzies said that his overall impression was a feeling of uncertainty for the future of SACRE.  Further details could be found on the website www.nasacre.org.uk

To receive an update from Barbara Crellin

Mrs Crellin provided a summary on the Rutland SACRE Self Evaluation.  As a SACRE Mrs Crellin said it is clear that Rutland is streets ahead.  We have a Chair who, as a Councillor, provides us with a clear route to the Local Authority and therefore the link is strong.  The Toolkit focusses on 5 key aspects of the work of SACREs and Mrs Crellin would like us to look at where we feel we are – would anyone miss us SACREs were abolished.  Mrs Crellin suggested that each of the 3 key stages, Developing SACREs, Establishing SACREs and Advanced SACRESs be put on the next 3 consecutive Agendas for discussion.  Mrs Crellin stated she felt the Rutland SACRE was well established but that we should aspire to Stage 3.  Mrs Crellin suggested setting up a working group with Miss Waller, Mr Menzies, Mrs Davies and Mrs Stephenson to meet before the RE Co-ordinators network meeting to look at the  development plan.

AGREED:

Mrs Crellin to set up a working group before the networking meeting in late September.  To advise Mrs Snodin of the agreed date so that she can book a room.

                                                            ACTION: Mrs Crellin and Mrs Snodin

Discussion, led by Katy Walker and Megan Davis, on the ways primary and secondary schools approach collective worship

Adjourned to next Meeting

Update to be provided by Dr Rashida Sharif

Discussed under Action Point 4 above

Discussion to be led by Miss Waller

Schools in Rutland currently follow the Northampton Syllabus although there is no legal requirement.  Whilst members agreed that no syllabus is perfect, the group recommended that the Local Authority approve the existing one  Miss Waller requested that Dr Sharif contact SACRE and find out what the Local Authority is legally obliged to do with regards to adoping a 5-year syllabus for religious education.  Mr Sharpe said that he had an email which stated the position and that he would send it to Dr Sharif.  Miss Waller said she would talk to the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council regarding this.  Mrs Crellin said that Peterborough Cathedral has a new Educational Officer, Alex Garton and that she would forward Ms Garton’s latest report to Miss Waller. 

AGREED:

Dr Sharif to contact SACRE to clarify the legal position for Local Authorities regarding adoption of a syllabus for RE

Mr Sharpe to forward Dr Sharif the e mail referred to above.

Miss Waller to talk to the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council

Mrs Crellin to forward Alex Garton’s report to Miss Waller

                                                                        ACTION: Dr Sharif, Mr Sharpe, Miss Waller and Mrs Crellin

Discussion regarding the SACRE development plan led by Miss Waller

Dealt with

Ofsted inspection report of The Parks School from 26-27 January 2016

Miss Waller congratulated The Parks School on an exemplary Ofsted report.  English Martyrs RC Primary School had also received a positive report from the Inspector.  Two further schools had been inspected – St Nicholas C of E Primary School, Cottesmore and Empingham C of E Primary School and reports for these two schools are pending and should be received in time for the next SACRE meeting.

AGREED:

Miss Waller to write to the Parks School to congratulate the Head on their exemplary Ofsted Inspection.

Item requested for discussion by David Sharpe

Adjourned

To review the response received by Lord Nash

Discussed under Action Point 2

No urgent business was tabled

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, 11 October 2016, 4.30 – 6.30 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Catmose.

The next meeting of the Rutland SACRE will take place on Tuesday, 11^th October 2016 and will be the AGM.  Miss Waller stated that she will be stepping down as Chair and that the AGM will need to appoint a new Chair and Vice-Chair going forward.  Miss Waller stated she would be happy to continue as a Member of SACRE and would hope that the new Chair would drive the Development Plan forward.