Council and councillors

Apologies were received from Andreas Menzies, Sara Barrett, and Cllr Lucy Stephenson.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Rutland SACRE held on 6 October 2020.

It was requested that it be included within the previous minutes that there was discussion on how SACRE could measure success within Religious Education. Suggestions included looking at examination results and developing a questionnaire for schools.

Subject to the above being included within the minutes, the record of the meeting of the Rutland Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) held on 6 October 2020 were confirmed as a correct record.

To finalise the 2019-20 Rutland SACRE Annual Report.

The final version of the Rutland SACRE Annual Report 2019/20 was agreed by members. Mr Silcock would send the annual report to the Department for Education.

For members to review the Development Plan 2020-22.

Discussion would be had at the next SACRE meeting to determine how to report back to the NASACRE regarding the name of Religious Education and other recommendations set out by NASACRE.

Mrs Fitton would circulate a list of reading material that could be useful for SACRE members and teachers. Mr Hull would add to it with links from Humanists UK.

To receive an update from Amanda Fitton.

Mrs Fitton stated that due to Ofsted not currently visitng schools for inspections, there was no particular updates available.

To receive an update from Amanda Fitton.

Mrs Fitton stated that there was a Network meeting on 11 November, discussions were had on incorporating SEND with Religious Education and how to think about the SEND children.

The next meeting would take place after the February half term.

Ms Papworth stated she and Mrs Fitton had looked at whether schools were publishing their curriculum online and what syllabus they were using and any other information the schools had on their teaching of Religious Education.

Ms Papworth noted that a few schools were currently updating their curriculums before they were posting them online. There was still a lot of work to be done as it was difficult to find what syllabus each school was using.

Because of the pandemic and the pressure schools were currently under, it was felt that no pressure would be placed on schools to look into updating their information.

Ms Papworth would show the information gained so far with a plan of the next steps to take and would circulate to discuss at the next meeting.

It was questioned if there was a way to monitor how schools were coping with the pandemic and delivering RE. Mrs Davis stated that it would vary with schools and depend on the access to technology that schools and the children have. Some children will be sharing equipment for example. It was difficult to get the discussion aspect of RE with all the students at the moment.

Mrs Fitton stated during the lockdown in 2020 she had put together some home learning resources, supporting the curriculum that could be done easily at home and would encourage small discussions between the parents and their children.

Ms Gibson noted that at Oakham Baptist Church they were offering meetings which included games each week for children to take part in on Zoom.

It was noted that Rutland SACRE may need to be patient with schools at present and come back to schools when things are more back to normal and ask what could be done if it were to all happen again.

It was suggested that a message could be sent to schools asking if there was any way that Rutland SACRE could help them.

It was suggested to ask schools what the main challenges to teaching RE at this time are and what had been the positives.

To begin discussion on the Rutland SACRE Annual Report 2020-21.

The Chair noted that it was key to think on the outcome of what the Rutland SACRE is doing and whether SACRE is being taken seriously.

It was questioned whether there had been any constraints on SACRE due to financial matters.

Whilst Mrs Fitton would work on Rutland SACRE for an average of 2 hours a week, she would always share the resources and work she had done with other Councils with Rutland, no work was done solely for one Council.

It was hoped that there would be an online NASACRE conference in May where a member of SACRE could take part in, share best practices and feedback to the group on any work other SACREs are doing that we can look into.

No other business was received.

Tuesday 27 April 2020 at 4.30pm.

Tuesday 27 April 2021 at 4.30pm