Agenda item

This is the draft report of the SACRE’s work for 2019/20 to be submitted to the Welsh Government by the end of the year.

It was suggested, following a letter of guidance from the Minister for Education, that the report is amended to make clear that local authorities have responsibility for representation by non-religious belief organisations on SACRE.  The RE Adviser agreed to check this section.  The report was approved for submission to Welsh Government subject to the amendments suggested

The opportunity was taken to provide some updates of developments since the timeframe of the annual report:

·         Curriculum: The introduction of the new curriculum is 2022 as planned.  Schools are working on designing their curriculum assisted by the EAS where requested, and to provide professional learning.  The RE Framework has not yet been published due to legal delays in Welsh Government.  Work on the framework was to be collaborative and WASACRE has written to Welsh Government to express its concerns that SACREs have not had sight of the framework since December 2019.  It is hoped that SACREs will have this opportunity before the purdah period prior to the Senedd elections. 

Due to COVID 19, schools are placing high emphasis on blended learning (lesson planning using technology, face to face, virtually or recorded lessons for students self-isolating at home).   Information on blended learning was circulated to members.

It was agreed that RE Teachers need significant support to design the curriculum. This is challenging without the RE Framework and there is a risk that RE will be left behind.  The teacher representative supported this view and welcomed any assistance and clarity.

·         Professional Learning: EAS has provided support for teachers such as blended learning master classes, webinars and playlists and will design bespoke support for schools that make a request.  Learning Network Schools (LNS) are supporting humanities from this year.  For the first time there will be Primary Advisers.  Much work is being done to provide quality assured resources.  LNS meetings have taken place and attendees have split up to discuss discrete subject areas. The hours of the RE Adviser have been reduced to part time and the role of LNS will increase to provide collaborative support.  Professional support for SACREs will continue unaffected. WASACRE will also provide support and is currently writing a briefing paper on a national approach to professional learning for RE.  A conference is also planned.  These approaches were welcomed by the teacher representative.

·         RE Curriculum Content: A Member noted that RE has included Christianity and other principle religions and was concerned that the inclusion of other philosophical beliefs will dilute the teaching of Christianity. The inclusion of values and ethics was to be a purpose across the curriculum and not confined to religious education.  The change of name from SACREs to SACs  has been included in the Bill without consultation.  The concerns were shared and these have been included in the consultation response.  A response from the Children and Young People Committee is awaited. 

·         Support for staff:  SACRE members sympathised with school staff who are struggling to plan the new curriculum when there is a lack of clarity. EAS has set up Central Teams and everyone who has an Hwb address will have access to all training.  Clusters are also building up resources on their Sharepoint sites.  It was observed that no faith schools are LNS schools which was considered an opportunity missed.  LNS were appointed on an application basis; no faith schools applied.  It was suggested that there will be lots of opportunities to contribute even if a school is not in a position to lead. Sharon Randall-Smith agreed to pass this message on to the EAS and also to point out that two primary schools is insufficient to raise the profile of RE in the region to the same level as other subjects.  Members expressed concerns about support for schools.

·         It was confirmed that work is in progress to write separate RE frameworks with the Church in Wales and Catholic Education Service in line with the Humanities curriculum.  The concept of a dual curriculum is still under consideration by the Children and Young People Committee in the Senedd.  WASACRE, NAPFRE and Catholic Education Service were invited to attend the Committee and this participation is available to view on Senedd TV.

·         Collective Worship: Guidance on collective worship from WASACRE during COVID 19 has been circulated to schools.

·         Holocaust Memorial Day (27^th January 2021): The theme next year is “Be the light in the darkness”.  It was queried if there is anything organised in Monmouthshire that SACRE can be involved in. The RE Adviser will remind schools.

·         GCSE/A Level examinations: These won’t be held this academic year in favour of teacher managed classroom assessment that will be externally verified.  This will generate the need for more support for schools.

·         Estyn: Estyn is supporting schools via phone calls etc.  Inspections are suspended awaiting the new curriculum.  Lots of information for schools is available on the Estyn website.