Agenda item

The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education considered a report of P Hodgson, Education Durham which provided an overview and update of support provided since the last meeting (for copy see file of Minutes).

D Van der Velde in noting the networks and training schedule, suggested that the spring session for ‘Judaism explored in the primary classroom’ planned for 3 February, conflicted with preparations for Sabbath and questioned how this was going to be delivered. P Hodgson advised that he would take this back and provide a response following the meeting.

L Burton raised a query regarding the survey and asked would be delivering this. She further asked whether data from secondary schools would also be sought to determine whether the picture in Durham was reflected nationally. P Hodgson advised that, that was indeed the intention, however whether those schools would respond was unknown.

Councillor Varty asked whether the training offered was for teachers only or whether Governors could also attend. P Hodgson advised that whilst the training was open to governors, it was specifically designed for practitioners and focused around secondary school teaching. The Chair noted that HIAS delivered RE training which reached those primary networks referred to by Councillor Varty.

K Passmore added her thanks to P Hodgson for the comprehensive report and following a comment made regarding GCSE results in Religious Education, P Hodgson circulated details of provisional data on GCSE results in Religious Studies across County Durham schools, noting the size of cohorts of students taken through to exam and how the results compared with the national average. He explained that the data provided some interesting reading where lower attaining schools were achieving above level 4, which highlighted the quality of teaching in those classes.

L Burton noted that she was aware that in some secondary schools RE was provided for far less than other core subjects making reference to Durham Johnston Comprehensive School as an example. P Hodgson suggested that he could provide some more meaningful narrative around these figures for the next meeting.

Resolved: That the content of the report be noted.