In the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.  The Clerk confirmed that no apologies had been received and that Madeleine Gilbert was attending her first meeting of the Rutland SACRE as the new representative for the Baptist Church.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Rutland SACRE held on the 29^th November 2022.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 29^th November 2022 were approved as an accurate record.

SUMMARY OF ACTIONS

Action 1

Daniel to distribute a short self-evaluation questionnaire for headteachers to complete regarding the quality of RE teaching in Rutland schools.

It was confirmed that the action had been completed.  6 schools had completed the evaluation and all had graded themselves as good. Full details would be distributed with the minutes – copy attached. 

Action 2

Amanda to meet with Mary-Anne, Megan and Daniel to gain schools feedback as to what schools actually wanted from the network meetings and to discuss the possibility of inter-county meetings with Peterborough and Cambridgeshire. 

It was confirmed that a meeting had been arranged for Thursday, 16 March 2023 and feedback regarding discussions would be provided at the next meeting.

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Gurdev Singh joined the meeting at 4.39 p.m. and with the agreement of the committee took over from the Vice Chair as Chair of the meeting.

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To approve the Rutland SACRE annual report for 2021-2022.

The draft SACRE Annual Report for 2021-2022 was presented to attendees by the Clerk.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       The Clerk had received new details from the Service Manager for Learning and Skills regarding the ‘A’ level results from Harington School and these had been added to the annual report.

·       The Clerk confirmed that the approved annual report would be sent to NASACRE and Councillor D Wilby, Portfolio Holder for Education and Childrens' Services for their attention.

·       It was agreed that the Clerk would check to see if the report needed to be added to the Council’s Forward Plan for presentation at Cabinet and/or Council.

Post Meeting Note

The SACRE Annual Plan 2021-2022 does not need to be presented to Cabinet and/or Council.  The plan has been sent to NASACRE and Councillor D Wilby and has been published on the Council’s website: https://rutlandcounty.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=282&MId=2818

RESOLVED

That the Committee:

a)    APPROVED the Rutland SACRE Annual Report for 2021-2022.

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Rev James McWhirter joined the meeting at 4.44 p.m.

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To agree the two representatives to attend the NASACRE annual conference/AGM on the 22 May 2023, 10:30am -15:30pm in the Fishmongers’ Hall, London.  Full details can be found on the NASACRE website: https://nasacre.org.uk/conference-and-agm/

Members had been notified that the NASACRE Annual Conference/AGM would be held on the 22 May 2023 in London and volunteers had been requested to attend.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       Members were informed that each SACRE was allowed a maximum of two places.

·       The Clerk confirmed that the Chair, Gurdev Singh and Rev. James McWhirter had both stated that they would like to attend the NASCRE Annual Conference/AGM.

·       No other expressions of interest regarding attendance were received.

·       Sheila Gewolb confirmed that she would also attend the conference but in her capacity as an executive member of NASACRE.

·       Full details regarding the conference could be found on the NASACRE website: https://nasacre.org.uk/conference-and-agm/

RESOLVED

That the Committee:

a)    AGREED that the Clerk would book the Chair, Gurdev Singh and Rev. James McWhirter on to the NASACRE Annual Conference on the 22 May 2023.

To review/approve the SACRE Development Plan 2020-22 following completion of the NASACRE self-evaluation toolkit.

The SACRE Development Plan 2020-22 was discussed following the completion of the NASACRE self-evaluation toolkit.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       The Chair and the SACRE/RE Advisor would meet outside of the meeting to review the 2020-2022 development plan following the committee’s completion of the NASACRE Self-Evaluation Plan.

·       A new development plan for 2023-2028 would also be drafted using the responses from the recent schools’ RE self-evaluation questionnaire.

·       It was agreed that the new development plan should include items regarding the assessment of RE, diversity and world views as these had been raised by schools in the questionnaire.

ACTION: Gurdev Singh and Amanda Fitton

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

An update on the network meetings was received from Amanda Fitton, SACRE Advisor.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       A meeting would be held on Thursday, 16^th March 2023 with Jane Lewis Assistant Diocesan Director of Education, Diocese of Peterborough to discuss the results of the schools RE self-evaluation questionnaire.

·       The area of assessment has been raised by schools i.e. what to assess and how to assess.

·       Assistance and information regarding diversity and world views had also been requested as Rutland was not a very diverse community.

·       The possibility of inter-county meetings with Peterborough and Cambridgeshire would also be discussed. 

·       It was confirmed that feedback from the meeting would be provided at the next meeting of the Rutland SACRE.

ACTION: Amanda Fitton

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

An update was received from members of SACRE regarding any training courses they had attended since the previous meeting.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       Sheila Gewolb informed members that she had attended a webinar by Deborah Weston from the Religious Education Council (REC) regarding RE teacher recruitment.  Numbers entering the RE teaching profession had declined since the government withdrew training bursaries from RE.  However, an educational charity had stepped in to boost RE teaching. Culham St Gabriel’s Trust, a leading trust supporting teachers of Religious Education in schools, was spearheading an RE teacher recruitment campaign and was encouraging SACRE’s to help support the campaign. Details and resources were available on Trust’s website: https://www.cstg.org.uk/campaigns/teacher-recruitment/join-the-campaign/.  It was agreed that the Chair and the SACRE/RE Advisor would write a draft a letter on behalf of the Rutland SACRE to all Councillors and the local MP regarding RE teacher recruitment.

ACTION: Gurdev Singh and Amanda Fitton

·       Rev James McWhirter informed members that he had attended a webinar by AREIAC (The Association of RE Inspectors, Advisors and Consultants) on the 31^st January 2023 regarding World Views and a National Statement of Entitlement.  The core vision was that ‘everyone has a world view; everyone inhabits a world view and nobody stands nowhere.’

·       Rutland SACRE had paid an annual subscription so all training was free of charge to members. Full training course details were available from the NASACRE website: www.nasacre.org.uk

To receive a verbal report from Elizabeth Papworth, Education Development Lead and to receive any Ofsted Inspection Reports.

A verbal update was received from Elizabeth Papworth, Service Manager – Learning and Skills, RCC.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       Two Ofsted inspections of Rutland schools had been held since the last SACRE meeting.  Neither report specifically mentioned RE.

·       Catmose Primary School had been inspected in January 2023. One pupil had commented that ‘It’s OK to be unique!’.

·       St Nicholas CofE Primary School had been inspected in January 2023.  The report noted that the school had adapted and re-designed their curriculum to be broad and ambitious.

·       It was queried if SACRE would be able to monitor and evaluate schools’ performance against the new Agreed Syllabus. The SACRE/RE Advisor confirmed that this would be included in SACRE’s new development plan and would be a standing agenda item at future network meetings.

ACTION: Amanda Fitton

·       The group requested if children’s work regarding RE and diversity could be viewed by SACRE members to identify what work was being done in schools.  The Service Manager – Learning and Skills and the SACRE/RE Advisor confirmed that they would speak to schools.

ACTION: Lizzie Papworth and Amanda Fitton

·       Andrew Hull confirmed that this was his last meeting of the Rutland SACRE as he was retiring.  He thanked everyone for their hard work and support especially the SACRE/RE Advisor who was doing ‘excellent work.’

·       Councillor R Powell informed members that local elections would be held on the 5^th May 2023.  She confirmed that she would be standing for re-election but could not confirm that, if she was re-elected, she would be re-allocated as a member of the Rutland SACRE.  She stated that if she wasn’t then she would like to thank everyone for all their hard work.

·       The SACRE/RE Advisor confirmed that lessons had been learnt following the communication regarding attendance at the Agreed Syllabus Conference and the Clerk confirmed that an email had been sent by the Governance Manager to Councillors reminding them of the importance of attendance at meetings.

·       The Chair confirmed that the SACRE meetings in June and September 2023 would be held in-person in the Council Chamber at Rutland County Council.  The other meetings in December and March would be held virtually via Zoom.

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Sheila Gewolb left the meeting at 5.21 p.m.

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·       Members were informed that the Agreed Syllabus had been approved by Rutland County Council at the Cabinet meeting on the 7^th March 2023.  The official launch of the Agreed Syllabus was confirmed as the 15 June 2023.  The SACRE/RE Advisor confirmed that information about the Agreed Syllabus Conference and the 16 workshops would be sent to all schools and she agreed to send the Clerk the timetable of activities for distribution to SACRE members.

ACTION: Amanda Fitton

To review/update the Forward Plan

The Forward Plan was discussed and updated accordingly.  During the discussion, the following points were noted:

·       The draft Development Plan 2023-2028 would be added to the new Work Plan for the next meeting.

Tuesday, 6^th June 2023 at 4.30 p.m.

Tuesday, 6^th June 2023 at 4.30 p.m.