Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15^th October 2018 were confirmed as a true record.

Matters arising:

·         Professional Advice: It was confirmed that Paula Webber provides professional advice to Monmouthshire SACRE and clarified that the professional learning offer is to provide specialist advice to those teaching RE.

·         Erasmus+ Programme:  An update was provided that this is an ongoing three year programme to challenge radicalisation and extremism.  It involves three schools in South East Wales working with schools in Germany, Poland and Spain with the purpose of designing a programme of study for Key Stage 3 age pupils for use EU wide. Teachers from the participating schools have visited schools in Wales meeting in City Hall, Cardiff. 

Teachers from Wales will also be visiting schools in Warsaw; attending training and conferences to share ideas.  It is hoped that the resulting schemes of work will be available in the Autumn ready for external verification in each country.  The target group is Y8 pupils.

It was confirmed, in relation to Brexit, that the funding for the project has already been received and is secure

            ACTION: It was agreed to write to European Forum for Teachers of Religious Education (EFTRE) to raise awareness of the work and to see if any similar work is being undertaken elsewhere.

SACRE Annual Report 2017/18: It was agreed that the vacancies in the annual report would be checked.  The report has been completed, translated into Welsh and sent to Welsh Government and WASACRE (will be available on website).

A SACRE member had attended an event at Chepstow Community Hub to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day.  It was reported that the event was well attended.  The programme comprised great presentations from schools, films and readings.  The Holocaust survivor didn’t speak this year but her husband wrote a poem for her entitled “The Last Train In” referring to the last Kindertransport train.

A membership update was provided and new members were welcomed to the meeting, as follows:

·         Free Church Council: Mrs. S. Gooding

·         Free Church Council (Salvation Army): Mr. N. Pryor

·         Teacher Associations: Ms. K. Wilding, Ms. C. Smith and Mrs. S. Hamer

Vacancies exist for the following:

·         Jewish faith representative:  The named representative has not attended for several meetings.  Further information will be sought and a new representative if necessary

·         Muslim faith representative

·         Sikh faith representative

·         Free Church Council

·         Roman Catholic faith representative

·         Co-Opted non-voting Member

ACTION: The Clerk was asked to make enquiries with the Onyx Foundation and Cytun.  P. Webber will seek nominations via the Interfaith Network and other contacts.

The following suggestions were put forward for inclusion in the SACRE News Bulletin.

·         Erasmus+ Programme;

·         Goytre Fawr Primary School had visited the Eastern Valley Foodbank which had inspired other work including recording a jingle on school radio and designing posters.  Some of the children’s work was passed around.  Losing a pet has also been a topic that has generated sensitive responses

·         It was agreed to hold a future meeting in a school to see examples of the good work being undertaken.

·         It was reported that it was the Bahá'í New Year on 21st March 2019.  A letter from the Prime Minister was shared.

·         County Councillor J. Watkins had visited a class in Archbishop Rowan Williams Church in Wales Primary School to celebrate the Tibetan New Year with musical instruments for the children to test and to sing mantras.  A report will be provided for the newsletter.

·         A topic from the diocesan newsletter Grapevine on school prayers and children’s mental health and wellbeing was suggested for inclusion. The article on Prayerspace can be shared in the newsletter. 

·         Other contributions related to RE are welcomed and must be submitted to P. Webber by 12^th April 2019.

Members had viewed the video on the position of RE in curriculum reform recorded by Professor Donaldson and were reassured but also wished to see how it works out in practice.  The Welsh Government Consultation has been extended and some members have made individual representations.  An update was provided on progress.  The Humanities curriculum is completed in draft and will be published 1st April 2019 for consultation.  Pioneer groups are working on resources and the framework is being written up.

Generally SACRE Members were impressed with developments e.g. more RE is visible in the finished draft and progression steps are included.  It was commented that by ages 14-16, all disciplines are evident at quite a challenging level.  Further feedback will be provided at the next meeting.  It was suggested that SACRE may wish to look at RE in other areas such as health and wellbeing.

It was noted that teachers, RE practitioners, Estyn, Qualifications Wales and RE Co-ordinators will meet as a group to write up a draft by July for consultation.  The aim is to review the curriculum as written and create an agreed syllabus albeit with no content.  For higher level concepts, schools are able to design their own curriculum for which guidance will be given. 

Members were appreciative of all the work being undertaken and emphasised the importance of having a significant input and feedback from teachers.  It was reported that teachers are being released in small groups for a day to look at Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLE) also with a view to developing professional learning tools.

ACTION:

1.    S. Randall-Smith to make enquiries with schools to release of teachers/practitioners to create a working party to respond to the consultation on the draft curriculum.

2.    It was agreed that there would be a presentation on the humanities curriculum at the next meeting. 

SACRE addressed the consultation questions as follows:

Monmouthshire SACRE response to p.29-33the Welsh Government Consultation - Our National Mission: A Transformational Curriculum: Proposals for a new legislative framework

Monmouthshire SACRE welcomes the opportunity to participate in the consultation on the legislation surrounding the new curriculum for Wales.  Comments relate directly to Religious Education p.29-33 of the consultation.

Q9.   Do you agree with the proposed approach to RE?

3.65 In keeping with Successful Futures, we propose that RE is retained as a statutory requirement from age 3 and forms part of the Humanities AoLE.

Monmouthshire SACRE agrees with the proposed approach as outlined in Successful Futures. However, there is concern among members that Religious Education might be eclipsed by the other four humanities subjects. Given its statutory nature, legislation should ensure that RE is both visible in the new curriculum for Wales and in school-based curriculum planning and delivery.

SACRE Members are pleased that the statutory requirement for religious education will be from age 3 in the new curriculum giving it parity with other curriculum subjects. Foundation Phase practitioners who sit on SACRE suggest that RE naturally lends itself  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

This item was deferred until the next meeting.

This item was deferred until the next meeting.

This item was deferred until the next meeting.

This item was deferred until the next meeting.

This item was deferred until the next meeting.

This item was deferred until the next meeting.

The minutes were received and noted.

Members were informed that Monmouthshire SACRE can make one nomination for a Member to join the WASACRE Executive Committee. Two names were considered and, following a vote, it was agreed to nominate Andrew Jones to join the Executive Committee.  It was confirmed that P. Webber attends WASACRE meetings as an Officer.

Dates of future WASACRE meetings were noted.

Thursday 23^rd May 2019 at 1.00pm at Caldicot School.