Agenda and minutes

Apologies received from Chris Ward, and Dilip Ladwa.

There were no changes in membership since the previous meeting.

David Taylor was elected Chair for the Academic Year 2024/25.

Amanda Bedding was elected Vice-Chair for the Academic Year 2024/25.

To sign and approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of SACRE held on 18 June 2024.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 18 June 2024 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman, with the following amendments:

• Statement made by Rose Carberry: Teachers needed to be secure with the terminology, without a glossary a lack of confidence may stop teachers addressing issues.
• Statement made by Rabbi Zvi Solomons: The syllabus as it stood was a recolonisation of the syllabus.

Amanda Bedding gave an overview of the Annual Report 2023/24, which can be found here: Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education - Recording

Amanda Bedding highlighted the following points:

• Statutory responsibilities in RE
• Statutory responsibilities in Collective Worship
• Links with Other Bodies
• Local Involvement
• SACRE Arrangements.

The Annual Report 2023/24 was accepted and adopted by members of SACRE.

Members convened as the Agreed Syllabus Conference, and David Taylor introduced the Pan-Berkshire Agreed Syllabus 2025-2030. The full presentation can be found here: Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education – Recording

Rabbi Zvi Solomons stated his concerns regarding the timing of the receipt of the Syllabus close to the Jewish and Muslim Festivals and stated that he had been unable to review the Syllabus adequately. Rabbi Zvi Solomons stated that he was outraged that advice had been sought from parties who did not sit on the SACRE, which had not been seen by the members of SACRE, which he considered to be unconstitutional behaviour. Rabbi Zvi Solomons objected to the term ‘world view’ and suggested that the syllabus presented two different ideas using the same terminology.

Members voted to thank the religious advisors for their dedicated work on the production of the Syllabus. 

David Rees noted that the drafting of the Syllabus had taken place over a significant period of time to allow for additions and consultations.

Dilip Ladwa noted that the development process had been difficult to follow with the number of drafts and suggested an addendum which gave additional guidance and content for teachers.

Councillor Paul Dick felt that the proposed Syllabus was clearer, better developed, and contained additional resources for teachers, and was a step forward from the 2018 - 2023 Syllabus.

Members noted that failure to pass the Agreed Syllabus would mean the Syllabus dated 2018 – 2023 would continue to be used.

The Chairman suggested that an addendum could be added to which applied only to West Berkshire SACRE, and individual SACRE faith representatives would be able to suggest supplementary material for use in schools. 

Councillor Vickers noted that the majority of pupils would have no specific faith background.

Robin Launder considered that it was acceptable for Humanism to be referred to as a non-religious worldview, and the term ‘Worldview’ was a national phrase that would be in the GCSE Syllabus.

Angela Brennan noted that the term worldview was not perfect, but noted that religion was something with embedded practice, which had been articulated well in the new Syllabus.

Councillor Clive Taylor was impressed with the Syllabus but indicated that he would abstain from voting on the Syllabus as he had not been at previous meetings.

Amanda Bedding suggested that teachers had welcomed the inclusion of world views into the Syllabus.

Melanie Higgs supported the adoption of the Syllabus as it would give opportunities for delivering good teaching and learning and was an improvement on the current Syllabus.

Rose Carberry noted that the Syllabus had been carefully considered, and additions had been made that would enable teachers to teach confidently. 

The Agreed Syllabus Conference voted to adopt the Agreed Syllabus.

7.1 Newsletter

7.2 Networks

7.3 Action Plan

7.4 Upcoming Events (Interfaith Week, HMD, Strictly RE)

7.5 Syllabus Launch – 27 March 2025, 2pm in Winnersh

David Rees provided an update, the full presentation can be found here: Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education – Recording

David Rees highlighted the following topics:

• Newsletter
• Networks
• Action Plan
• Upcoming Events (Interfaith Week, HMD, Strictly RE)
• Agreed Syllabus Launch (27 March 2025)

Action: The RE Newsletter to be shared with members of SACRE when it is sent to teachers. 

Suggestions: 18 February (Hybrid), 3 June (In person at a place of worship), 21 October (Hybrid)

The 2025 meetings dates were confirmed as:

• 11 March 2025 (Hybrid)
• 3 June 2025
• 21 October 2025 (Hybrid)

Rabbi Zvi Solomons stated that his wife would be able to give a presentation on Judaism on 3 June 2025.

No items were discussed under Equality and Diversity.

No items were discussed under Any Other Business.

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 remove the press and public, and move into a Part II session