We gather together here today intent on doing good work.

We seek to represent fairly and well, those who have given us this task.

May our efforts be blessed with insight, guided by understanding and wisdom.

We seek to serve with respect for all.

May our personal beliefs give us strength to act honestly and well in all matters before us.

The committee undertook a moment for reflection.

Apologies for absence were received from Andreas Menzies and Rhoda Gibson.

The Chair invited Bjorn Finke to introduce himself as the replacement for Andreas Menzies who represented the Roman Catholic Church.

The Chair thanked Andreas for all of his work and support given to the Rutland SACRE.

To elect a Vice Chair of the Rutland SACRE for the 2021-22 period.

Councillor R Powell opened the meeting by proposing that Councillor L Stephenson be for nominated for the position of Vice-Chair. This was seconded and upon being put to the vote this was unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED

That Councillor L Stephenson be APPOINTED as Vice-Chair of SACRE for the remainder of the academic year.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Rutland SACRE held on 12 October 2021.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2021 were considered and AGREED as a true record of the proceedings.

It was confirmed that the Rutland SACRE Annual Report was circulated as previously agreed in the last meeting on 12 October 2021.

To receive an update from Gurdev Singh and Amanda Fitton, SACRE Advisor.

Amanda Fitton, SACRE and Religious Education Advisor, introduced a report which provided an update on the Agreed Syllabus Conference.

During the discussion the following points were noted:

• The business plan was discussed with Jonathan Lewis, Director for Education for Peterborough and Cambridgeshire and Jonathan had agreed to provide just over £20,000 to the Agreed Syllabus Conference. The £20,000 would cover teacher expenses, a dedicated website for resources and a launch.
• An agreement would be issued to Rutland County Council and Peterborough City Council outlining the costs for each Local Authority. The SACRE Advisor confirmed that this would be 6% of £20,000 for Rutland and this had been agreed by Gill Curtis, Head of Learning and Skills.
• The first meeting took place on 16 December 2021 and a joint Chair was elected.
• The SACRE Advisor was in the process of setting up a Teams site for the Agreed Syllabus Conference.
• The SACRE Advisor confirmed that an extra Member from the Rutland SACRE would be required for the Agreed Syllabus Conference, and it was confirmed that Reverend Dr Peter Holmes, Church of England Representative would attend.
• The SACRE Advisor would share the future meeting dates with the Clerk for sharing with the SACRE Members.

Action: Stacey Potter

• Reverend Dr Peter Holmes advised that the Peterborough Diocese had highlighted its views on the Agreed Syllabus Conference, and these would be shared with the Rutland SACRE Members through the Clerk. Gurdev Singh, Representative of The Sikh Faith confirmed that the views would become a part of the Agreed Syllabus Conference and a response would be issued in due course outlining any changes that would be made.

Action: Stacey Potter and Gurdev Singh

• The SACRE Advisor confirmed that the Syllabus covered all Key Stages apart from Reception.
• The SACRE Advisor Amanda confirmed that Academies had to follow a Syllabus and it was advised to follow a locally agreed Syllabus. Gurdev advised that it would be useful for other schools to be advised of what Syllabus should be followed. Amanda would share the information to Members of SACRE and local school.

Action: Amanda Fitton

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Reverend James McWhirter, Church of England Representative, joined the meeting at 17:00 having experienced technical issues.

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To review sections 1 and 5 of the NASACRE Self Evaluation Toolkit.

https://www.nasacre.org.uk/resources/sacre-management

Councillor R Powell proposed that item 1 of the NASACRE Self Evaluation Toolkit be discussed.

During the discussion the following points were noted:

Key Area: 1a – Funding: Professional and financial support

How well supported and resourced is SACRE, by the LA exercising its statutory responsibilities?

• It was agreed that the SACRE budget would be discussed and published on an annual basis in January at the Rutland SACRE meetings.
• The Chair and Vice-Chair confirmed that it would be useful for a statement regarding the Rutland SACRE responsibilities and the work was being undertaken to be shared at a meeting of Rutland’s Full Council. This would enable more communication with the wider Local Authority.
• Members agreed that the Rutland SACRE was Established within area 1a.

Key Area: 1b – SACRE meetings

How purposeful, inclusive, representative and effective are SACRE meetings?

• Rutland SACRE did have representation from the Jewish Faith, Aga Cahn. Aga had not recently attended the Rutland SACRE meetings and Amanda Fitton, SACRE and Religious Education Advisor would contact Aga to discuss this and inform the Chair and Clerk.

Action: Amanda Fitton

• Reverend Dr Peter Holmes, Church of England Representative stated that it would be beneficial for more teachers to be represented which would enable the Rutland SACRE to be placed within the advanced category.
• Reverend James McWhirter, Church of England Representative requested that more specific and wide ranged topics be discussed and debated at future Rutland SACRE meetings.
• Members agreed that the Rutland SACRE was Established within area 1b.

Key Area: 1c – Membership and training

To what extent is the membership of SACRE able to fulfil SACRE’s purpose?

• The SACRE Advisor suggested that the Rutland SACRE look at the updated Census information for Rutland to understand whether the diversity had changed. This would enable Members to understand if the Rutland SACRE was accurately representing Rutland. The Census was not due until late 2022.
• Rutland SACRE Members had linked in with the NASACRE website and its training. Councillor L Stephenson stated that there was opportunities for training, but it would be useful for workshops to be available for Members and Members welcomed this. The Chair asked Members to make suggestions for workshops at the next meeting and for the SACRE Advisor to highlight available dates for these to take place.

Action: All Members

• Elizabeth Papworth, Education Development Lead confirmed that there was funding available for Members who wanted to partake in training.
• The SACRE Advisor would provide Rutland SACRE Members with a list highlighting what Members should know regarding SACRE and additional areas of training that would be of interest. Amanda confirmed that the NASACRE annual meeting would be taking place in Birmingham on 23 May 2022.

Action: Amanda Fitton

• Members agreed that the Rutland SACRE were Established in area 1c.

Key Area: 1d – Improvement/development planning

How effective are the priorities and actions identified by SACRE in improving the experience of pupils in schools?

• Members agreed that the input from the Rutland SACRE was correct, but it was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To review the SACRE Development Plan 2020-22.

The Council CONSIDERED the SACRE Development Plan for 2020-22 and it was agreed that an annual review would be undertaken at a future meeting.

To receive a verbal update from Members of SACRE on training attended.

Amanda Fitton, SACRE and Religious Education Advisor had recently attended the NASACRE training on Worldviews.

To receive an update from Amanda Fitton, SACRE Advisor, on Network Meetings.

Amanda Fitton, SACRE and Religious Education Advisor, provided a verbal update on Network meetings.

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• Only two teachers were in attendance and the SACRE Advisor confirmed that it was difficult for teachers to attend training due to a vast amount of other commitments. Elizabeth Papworth, Education Development Lead confirmed that schools were finding it difficult with staff absences due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Megan Davis, Teacher Representative confirmed that due to the number of commitments it was difficult to attend all training sessions, but information was cascaded between schools particularly those within a Trust.
• A training session in Cambridgeshire was provided regarding what Ofsted would be looking for in Deep Dive’s.
• The next Network meeting was taking place on 24 March 2022, and this would focus on knowledge. The SACRE Advisor would circulate the meeting invite to Members.

Action: Amanda Fitton

• Reverend Dr Peter Holmes, Church of England Representative requested a register of what schools attended the Network meetings to be provided on an annual basis.

Action: Amanda Fitton

To receive a verbal report from Elizabeth Papworth, Education Development Lead.

Amanda Fitton, SACRE and Religious Education Advisor, provided a verbal update on Monitoring of RE in schools.

The SACRE Advisor stated that it was difficult to report as very few Ofsted inspections had taken place in Rutland and what was being gathered by Ofsted was not very helpful and very little information was being provided.

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Councillor L Stephenson left the meeting at 18:00pm and did not return.

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To receive any Ofsted Inspection Reports.

There were no Ofsted Inspection Reports to discuss.

There were no items of urgent business.

8 March 2022

The date of the next meeting was NOTED as 8 March 2022.