Minutes:
The Specialist Inspector for Religious Education gave a PowerPoint presentation (for copy of presentation see file of minutes).
The presentation looked at the following:-
· RE Networks
· RE Hubs
· All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on RE – Chair Stephen Lloyd lost his seat.
· Expert Advisory Group (EAG) had produced some curriculum materials based on the RE framework.
· GCSE Changes from 2016
· Exam boards are working on draft specifications.
· First teaching would be September 2016.
· First exam summer 2018.
· Implications for those who teach RE over 3 years.
· NASACRE AGM held in May 2015
Charles Clarke was the Key Note Speaker and asked the following questions:-
· Is the current statutory framework the right one to promote RE at the current time?
· Should RE be statutory at all?
· Should RE be part of the national curriculum?
· Should RE be nationally or locally determined?
· What should RE be called?
· Should it continue to be statutory from age 5 to 18?
· What is the role of SACRE?
· Should the right of parental withdrawal from RE remain?
· What about parents who want religious instruction rather than religious education?
· Is change needed?
· What should happen about Collective Worship?
Members discussed the contents of the PowerPoint presentation.
Resolved: That the presentation be noted.