Agenda and minutes

Amanda Bedding gave an overview of SACRE in 2024 comprising:

·       The purpose of SACRE

·       How SACRE aims to achieve its purpose

·       West Berkshire Council Resources

Mel Higgs joined the meeting at 16:36

Resolved: Clerk to Add David Rees to minutes of the last meeting as present as Professional RE Advisor

David Taylor reported that he would step down in 2025.

Councillor Clive Taylor had been confirmed as a member of SACRE at Council in May 2024

Val Bolan resigned as a member of SACRE

To sign and approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of SACRE held on 20 February 2024.

The Minutes of the previous meeting 20 February 2024 were confirmed as a true and accurate record.

Angela Brennan joined the meeting at 16:46

Amanda Bedding and David Rees gave an update on contact with schools, and Amanda Bedding noted the following points:

·       The ELDP network meeting had not been as well attended as previous years.

·       Regarding the draft Syllabus, teachers were satisfied with the questions, and wanted the statutory information and guidance on how to deliver it.

·       Amanda Bedding stated that she would trial different methods of delivering the Syllabus in September.

·       Schools had requested guidance in relation to sequence of lessons, learning directions, and had requested direction to when starting to teach Religious Education.

David Rees noted the following points:

·       If SACRE and the Pan-Berkshire Hub (The Hub) pooled resources into developing the materials, it would improve the quality.

·       David Rees’ Network would take place in the next week, where David Rees would highlight the latest updates to the Syllabus with teachers that attended.

·       The new Syllabus was limited in length to make it manageable for teachers.

Resolved: Robin Launder stated that he would be available to help develop resources.

David Taylor stated that he had not received information regarding the budget for SACRE and assumed that the budget would be the same as previous years. He noted Agenda Item 6 – request for funds (document) on Page 15, which contained the assumed budget without any uplift

Rose Carberry noted that SACRE was statutory and written into the Budget and that West Berkshire Council was supportive of SACRE.

Rose Carberry noted that the budget for SACRE came out of Education, and there would be a 6% budget uplift.

David Taylor stated that there should be a conversation between him, Rose Carberry and Bev Batty.

In response to a query from Councillor Tony Vickers, Rose Carberry confirmed that the SACRE budget was written into the 2024-25 Council Budget within Education, not Democratic Services.

Councillor Vickers questioned the potential financial implication of holding a SACRE conference, and the following points were made:

·       David Taylor noted that the Conference that had been planned had been financially allocated.

·       David Rees noted that if a large conference were to be planned by SACRE, if all SACREs were involved it would diminish any financial implications.

·       David Rees and Tony Vickers noted the benefit of a charge for tickets to any potential conference.

Resolved: Rose Carberry to follow up regarding the budget for SACRE.

David Rees gave an update on the Syllabus, and the following points were raised:

·         It had been a team effort, and additions would be made. Assessments would be worked on shortly.

·         The Hub did not want it to be too prescriptive, it was 32 pages in length, aiming to encourage enquiry.

·         There was a shift towards religions and worldviews.

·         The Hub was meeting more regularly.

·         It was not yet finished – wanted it to be launched on March 27 from 14:00 – 18:00.

·         Schools were not yet informed; a save the date email would be sent.

·         David Rees wanted a Newsletter sent out W/B 24 June.

·         The Syllabus Conference would broadcast the Syllabus, what the Syllabus was about and the advice it gave to Schools and Teachers.

Councillor Vickers queried whether all six local authorities in Berkshire would need to make a formal decision before the conference, and who would coordinate with the Councils. David Rees stated that assistance would be needed, as each SACRE has a different constitution and methodology.

Councillor Vickers questioned whether the Council had to make a decision to approve the Syllabus, and if so whether it would need to be at a public meeting, or whether it could be an Individual Decision by the Executive Portfolio Holder. 

Councillor Vickers noted that if he was Chairman of the Council in the next Municipal Year, he aimed to have a theme of ‘faith in the future’ and would publicise the newly adopted Syllabus.

Rabbi Zvi Solomons had the following concerns regarding the Syllabus:

·         The Syllabus mentioned gender identity, which was a contentious subject.

·         There is a diversity of world views in religion.

·         There appeared to be a bias in the Syllabus regarding Judaism. In response, David Rees stated that this had been amended in the latest version of the Syllabus.

·         Rabbi Solomons suggested that Islam was more prominent than Judaism within the Syllabus, and Humanism had a more prominent position than Judaism.

·         David Rees noted that the presence of Humanism was not at a detriment to Judaism or Islam. David Rees highlighted the table on page 4, and suggested comments could be added and adjusted be made.

·         There was a requirement for accurate terminology. With a preference for ‘Jews’ rather than ‘Jewish people’. Zvi Solomons highlighted that Judaism was not a world view but a civilisation and noted the cultural impacts of religion.

·         The Syllabus needed to be as close to the three B’s (Belonging, Believing, Behaving) as possible, and considered the Syllabus in its current form as a recolonisation of the Syllabus.

David Rees stated that Anne Andrews had been looking for a replacement for the three B’s

David Rees stated that he had received the information sent by Zvi Solomons, and it would be sent back to the Hub and discussed.

Councillor Vickers did not agree with the comments made by Rabbi Solomons, however acknowledged the political sensitivity and agreed that the suggested amendments be made. 

Robin Launder supported the Syllabus and commended the dedication  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

David Taylor gave an update on Collective Worship in Secondary Schools.

Robin Launder asked whether resources were being given to schools for Collective Worship. David Taylor responded that resources were not provided, but that he offered people to speak at schools.

David Rees gave an update on the action plan, noting that it was aimed at supporting teachers of RE to continually improve RE learning in their schools and to support the work of the Hub

David Rees stated he would be working on the Newsletter until mid-august.

David Rees invited members to send him events and information that could be included.

No items were discussed under equality and diversity.

The date of the next meeting would be 1 October (Tuesday) at the Council Offices

The next meeting would be 11 March.

Zvi Solomons stated that he would prefer hybrid or in person meetings. 

Councillor Vickers stated that there was a Full Council meeting on 27 March which may clash with the Conference

David Rees stated that the Conference would be held at Crown Plaza – Winnersh triangle. 

RECOMMENDATION: That members of the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items as it is likely that there would be disclosure of exempt information of the description contained in the paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 specified in brackets in the heading of each item. Section 10 of Part 10 of the Constitution refers.

The Members of SACRE voted to close the meeting to the press and public and proceed to Part II of the meeting.