Agenda item

The Chairman advised members that V Bain was now a NUT representative on Durham SACRE and not the RE Curriculum Group. The Specialist Inspector for Religious Education would be appointing a new representative to the RE Curriculum Group.

The Chairman also advised members that regrettably D Mowbray-Pape had tendered her resignation as a member of Durham SACRE which meant that there were now three vacancies on the Church of England Group.

K Passmore indicated that she had some contacts who may be interested in becoming Church of England representatives on Durham SACRE who she would contact and advise SACRE and the Church of England Group accordingly.

Councillor Dixon sought clarification on the County Council representatives and if these could be altered. SACRE members indicated that they were happy for these representatives to be altered if this was possible.

The Chairman referred to the four religious education teacher training places that were offered at Shotton Hall Academy, which they were struggling to fill last academic year. The Hermitage Academy also has a teacher training place available for religious education this academic year and the training is provided by Shotton Hall Academy.

The Chairman and the Specialist Inspector for Religious Education had met to see if SACRE could support Shotton Hall Academy to fill these spaces.

The Chairman had sent an e-mail to surrounding universities in relation to the vacancies but had not received a huge response. No university in the North East offers religious education teacher training, the nearest is York St John. He also advised members that there was a national bursary available.

SACRE members discussed the ways in which they could help fill these training places. The Specialist Inspector for Religious Education advised SACRE members that they could offer support but she did not know how much marketing they could carry out on behalf of the Academy.

Jo McShane who was in charge of training at Shotton Hall Academy would be in attendance at the next SACRE meeting to discuss the matter with members.

Councillor Dixon referred to the British Values Conference and sought clarification on the feedback. The Specialist Inspector for Religious Education responded that they had done a question time panel and the feedback received was that this was a good session and the Humanist representative in attendance had been welcomed.

K Passmore referred to the photograph that had been taken at the British Values Conference and asked if a copy could be obtained. The Chairman indicated that the photograph could be used in the next SACRE annual report or a newsletter.

The Chairman referred to the working groups that had been set up last year which worked well but it was difficult to get everyone together. He sought clarification if they were still the way forward or if members wanted to set up a joint working group. Members discussed the working groups in particular the need for a flexible membership and that the working groups be opened up to all members. It was agreed that arrangements be made for a joint working group meeting to be held on Wednesday 9 December 2015.

The Chairman referred to the circulated response from Lord Nash in relation to future funding and the role of Durham Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE). Members discussed the contents of the letter, in particular in relation to the future of SACRE in view of academies. Members sought clarification on the number of secondary schools in Durham and how many were academies.

The Specialist Inspector for Religious Education advised that there were 32 secondary schools and 4 Roman Catholic secondary schools, half of which were academies and half community maintained. In 2012 all academies paid to buy into the agreed syllabus but she was not sure if schools would buy into the Durham Agreed Syllabus in the future.

Members discussed academies and C Forbes who was an observer from Sunderland advised members that Sunderland no longer had advisors and 14 out of the 17 schools were academies and they also have a Multi Academy Trust. One of the academies did not offer Religious Education at Key Stage 3 but academies have to deliver Religious Education. She had sent a letter to school governors responsible for religious education and enclosed a copy of the leaflet from NASACRE. They had also hosted a network meeting and invited academies at no cost for the first meeting. SACRE were responsible for all children regardless if an academy.

The Chairman suggested that Durham SACRE write to school governors and also enclose a copy of the NASACRE leaflet. It was suggested that the letter also include what services the local authority could offer.