Councillor Powell welcomed everyone to the meeting.  Apologies were received from Revd Dr Peter Holmes, Elizabeth Papworth, Rhoda Gibson and Bjoern Finke.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Rutland SACRE held on 8^th March 2022.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on the 8^th March 2022 were approved as an accurate record.

·       Gurdev Singh was nominated as the Chair. 

·       There were no other nominations.

RESOLVED

That the Committee:

a)    UNANIMOUSLY voted Gurdev Singh as the Chair of the Rutland SACRE.

--o0o--

Councillor Powell formerly handed the meeting over to Gurdev Singh as the new Chair of the Rutland SACRE at 4.45 p.m.

--o0o--

·       Andrew Hull was nominated as the Vice Chair. 

·       There were no other nominations.

RESOLVED

That the Committee:

a)    UNANIMOUSLY voted Andrew Hull as the Vice Chair of the Rutland SACRE.

·       It was noted that SACRE could only recommend members and that it was the role of the Local Authority to formerly appoint them.

·       New members nominated were as follows:

o   Sheila Gewolb, representing the Jewish faith in Group A

o   Daniel Alfieri, representing the Peterborough diocese in Group B

o   Fiona Wilce, representing the Peterborough diocese in Group B

o   Cara Topping, representing the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers in Group C

o   Mary-Anne Marples, representation to be confirmed.

·       It was agreed that the Rutland SACRE constitution required to be reviewed and updated.

ACTION: Lizzie Papworth & Amanda Fitton

RESOLVED

That the Committee:

a)    UNANIMOUSLY recommended that the proposed new members be formerly appointed by the Local Authority as new members of the Rutland SACRE.

To receive a verbal update from Amanda Fitton, SACRE/RE Advisor.

An update was received from Amanda Fitton, SACRE/RE Advisor.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       Slow progress was being made on the agreed syllabus and world views but a lot of work had been done. 

·       A meeting had been arranged for the 13^th July 2022 in Papworth for further work to be done.  Rutland SACRE had spaces and funding available for 2 primary and 2 secondary teachers to attend the meeting. Contact Amanda Fitton (amanda.fitton@cambridgeshire.gov.uk) for full details.

·       A CPD Conference would be arranged for June 2023.  The keynote speakers would be Christine Counsell and Prof. Trevor Cooling.  Christine was the Head of Ofsted between October 2006 and June 2011 and was now the Director of Education at Inspiration Trust.  Trevor was the Project Director at the Religious Education Council of England and Wales.

·       The Clerk confirmed that a link to the Agreed Syllabus Teams folder had been received from Laura Corcoran, Clerk to the Cambridgeshire SACRE for Rutland Governance to access.  She also confirmed that the email details of Rutland SACRE members had been sent to Laura so that they would also receive the link to access documents regarding the agreed syllabus.

·       It was agreed that Amanda would provide a summary of the current position regarding the agreed syllabus at the next meeting. 

ACTION: Amanda Fitton

To review Section 2 of the NASACRE Self Evaluation Toolkit.

Section 2 of the NASACRE Self Evaluation Toolkit was reviewed.  During the discussion, the following points were note:

·       Sections 1 and 5 had been reviewed and any subsequent actions completed.

·       SIAMs reports may provide additional information regarding RE in schools.  SIAMs officer within Peterborough Diocese could collate an overview.  Daniel to contact and arrange for September meeting.?

ACTION: Daniel Alfieri ??

To review the SACRE Development Plan 2020-22.

The SACRE Development Plan was reviewed.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       The current development plan required reviewing following the pandemic as it would not expire until September 2022.

·       A new development plan for 2022-2023 would be required for the next academic year (September 2022 to August 2023). 

·       The ‘Agreed Syllabus’ would inform the new development plan as would the self-evaluation toolkit.

·       It was agreed to defer this item until the next meeting.

AGENDA

To receive a verbal update from SACRE members on training attended including the National Conference and AGM held on the 23^rd May 2022.

A written briefing was received from Amanda Fitton regarding the NASACRE Conference and AGM, which was held on the 23rd May 2022.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       ‘Decolonising the RE Curriculum’ was attended by Amanda Fitton, who reported that it was an interesting and informative training session.

Upcoming NASACRE Training Sessions:

·       29th June 2022, 7-8:30pm: So, you’ve joined your local SACRE…

Description: This session is a repeat of the September training and will help new SACRE members to understand their role, how SACRE works, its statutory responsibilities and how members make their contribution to this work.  Free online session

·       14th July 2022, 7-8pm: Still Standing – REC report on the future of SACRES

Description: This session reruns the conference workshop on the new REC report Still Standing asking what SACREs need to consider and do from its findings. Free online session.

To receive an update from Amanda Fitton, SACRE/RE Advisor.

A verbal update was received from Amanda Fitton, SACRE/RE Advisor.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       Network meetings had been held virtually during the pandemic.  Should this continue or should meetings go back to being held in person? 

·       English Martyrs CV Academy and Oakham CofE Primary were both offered as future venues.

·       Network meetings were held at 1pm but was this time convenient? What time would be better?  

·       It was agreed that Amanda Fitton would draft an email to go out to Rutland schools asking for their preferences regarding the Network Meetings.

ACTION: Amanda Fitton

RESOLVED

That the Committee:

a)    AGREED that future network meetings should be a mixture of both virtual and in-person with in-person meetings held during British Summer Time and virtual meetings held during winter.

b)    AGREED that future network meetings should be held after school hours.

--o0o--

Shelia Gewolb left the meeting at 5.48 p.m.

--o0o--

To receive a verbal report from Gill Curtis, Head of Learning and Skills.

An update report was received from Lizzie Papworth, Education Development Lead and presented by Gill Curtis, Head of Learning and Skills.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       Work with inspectors and providers was ongoing.

·       A SIAMs inspection was held last week and details would be provided at the next meeting.

To receive a verbal update from Amanda Fitton, SACRE/RE Advisor on the Education White Paper and the potential effect on SACRE.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1063601/opportunity_for_all_strong_schools_with_great_teachers_for_your_child__web__-_accessible.pdf

A verbal update was received from Amanda Fitton, SACRE/RE Advisor. During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       NASACRE were in conversation with the DfE regarding RE and the Education White Paper.

·       It was agreed that Amanda would draft a response regarding the Education White Paper on behalf of SACRE.

ACTION: Amanda Fitton

·       Individual members could comment separately to their respective MP.

·       It was confirmed that the Local Authority had regular meetings with the DfE and would feedback the SACRE statement to the Advisor.

a)    New RE Legislation in Wales

·       Under the new curriculum, set to be rolled out in schools from September 2022, the lessons would be compulsory, regardless of parental objections.  It was agreed that Amanda would circulate a briefing to members on the new no ‘opt-out’ for religious education in Wales.

ACTION: Amanda Fitton

Tuesday, 6^th September 2022 at 4.30 p.m. in the Council Chamber, RCC, Catmose, Oakham LE15 6HP

Tuesday, 6th September 2022 at 4.30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Rutland County Council, Catmose, Oakham LE15 6HP.

The meeting would also be available to view via Zoom.