CORNWALL HUMANISTS

SACRE REPORT

SACRE advises the Local Education Authority on Religious Education, and the Act of Collective Worship in their schools.
Peter Wood is currently a co-opted member of SACRE, representing Cornwall Humanists.

Report of meeting held at Penair School, Truro, on 14th July 2009

In the morning meeting members of SACRE had talks from two teachers about teaching RE at either end of the ability spectrum. Anna Corbett from Penair School talked about identifying gifted and talented pupils, and Jo Dayton told us about her work with handicapped pupils.

In the afternoon the SACRE AGM began by electing Rev Mike Coles as Chair and Bonnie Rockley as Vice Chair.

Agenda item 8.1 SACRE considered the Non-statutory guidance on RE produced by the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF). It was decided to write to Ed Balls of DCSF, and some of the main points made in SACRE's letter are shown below.

SACRE's letter to Ed Balls dated 14th July - Some of the points made
SACRE welcomed the further endorsement of the non-statutory National Framework for RE.
SACRE regretted that the consultation seemed more concerned with clarity than content.
The non statutory guidance on RE refers to religion and belief but the law requires only the study of religion. SACRE points out that primary legislation would be required to widen the scope of RE. Similarly, if groups like Humanists are to be represented on Committee A of SACRE, with voting rights, then there is a need for change in primary legislation.

SACRE's letter points out that the DCSF advice on RE seems to contain a contradiction, requiring both breadth and depth in RE teaching, which is not possible within the time constraints of the school timetable.

There are problems where RE is taught as part of an integrated curriculum because it may be difficult to identify which lessons a pupil who is withdrawn from RE should not study. Where RE is a part of a Humanities GCSE then a "withdrawn from RE" pupil will not be able to get the GCSE.
SACRE wonders of it is time to reconsider the right to withdraw from RE.

SACRE also notes with regret that in the Primary Curriculum Review there seems to be no obvious place for RE in the six area model of the curriculum.

Agenda item 9.1 SACRE considered the DCSF booklet "Learning Together to be Safe". The booklet provides a toolkit for schools to use to prevent violent extremism. The RE adviser suggested that the description of how extremism develops, contained in the booklet, is too simple a narrative, omitting for example violent white supremacists. SACRE decided to discuss this further at its Autumn meeting.

The Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC) is to begin meetings preparing for the new RE Cornwall Agreed Syllabus 2010-2015. The membership of the ASC will probably comprise two members from each of the four committees of SACRE, plus the RE adviser, David Hampshire.

Peter Wood 25th July 2009

SACRE Meeting held on 10th March 2009 at County Hall

A new chairman was elected to replace Mr Rick Lee, who has now taken up a teaching post in Bristol.

The meeting did not have to deal with any contentious issues, and so the meeting was shorter than usual, lasting only just over one hour.

The change from Cornwall County Council to Cornwall Council required some decisions. SACRE’s development plan will be carried forward to the new authority. The RE advisor is to find out from schools about the qualifications of those delivering RE. Concerns were expressed that in some cases teacher assistants may be doing the RE teaching, and even planning what should be taught.

The Agreed Syllabus for RE is due for revision in 2009 and there are two relevant initiatives from Central Government which may be relevant, both of which are due to appear in the Autumn of 2009. The advice contained in circular 1/94 is one, and the new proposals from Sir Jim Rose on the Primary Curriculum is the other. SACRE considered three possible models for the composition of the Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC). Model 1 proposed that SACRE as a whole would become the Agreed Syllabus Conference, as in the past. Model 2 proposed that the Agreed Syllabus Conference would be appointed by the LEA, seeking to avoid appointing SACRE members. Model 3 would in effect be a sub committee of SACRE with reduced membership, but still representing each of the committees of SACRE. Members of the ASC would be able to call on people with special interests or expertise to contribute to their deliberations. Rev S Yates made the point that model 3 would seem to provide for better checks and balances, as in Model 1 the same people who devise the Agreed Syllabus are the ones responsible for adopting it. Model 3 was selected unanimously.

David Hampshire introduced SACRE to a new section of the Cornwall County Website. view This area of the CC website gathers together relevant information and documents in one place, and should make it much easier to find what you seek. I liked the way that the Agreed Syllabus has been split into sections that can be downloaded as pdf files. The SACRE advice documents are also there.

Peter Wood 11th March 2009
Cornwall Humanists Representative on SACRE

SACRE Meeting held on 11th November 2008 at County Hall

There was a discussion of SACRE’s existing development plan, and the new format called “Deliverables for SACRE” which is presented in a format common to other parts of the County Council. The RE Advisor, David Hampshire, stressed that it is for SACRE to advise, and for the Local Education Authority to act.

Teacher recruitment in RE was discussed, and also the schools self evaluation in RE. The RE advisor was of the opinion that where RE in a school is provided by teachers qualified in RE and closely related subjects, there is a probability that the school will achieve better exam results in RE. In some cases teachers were being expected to lead an RE department, when in their first year of teaching. The best way to improve standards in RE, would be to have RE delivered by enthusiastic subject specialists, qualified in RE. This is a management responsibility, and depends on RE being seen as important by the senior management team in a school. In primary schools RE may be delivered by Teacher Assistants, and in some cases a Higher Level Teacher Assistant may even be the RE co-ordinator in a school. SACRE members expressed their disquiet about this practice.

The 2008 examination results in RE are good at A level with girls doing particularly well. The GCSE full course results are also good. Key Stage 2 and 3 are perhaps not so strong with the SATs taking priority at the end of Key Stage 2, and some non-specialist teachers of RE perhaps providing too little challenge at Key Stage 3.

Collective Worship
SACRE’s revised twenty-three page advice for Cornish schools was presented for consideration. I asked on behalf of Cornwall Humanists, and other non-believing pupils, what non-believing pupils, (perhaps 50% of those present in secondary schools,) should do whilst prayers are being said. Two SACRE members said that pupils are usually invited to pray, rather than instructed to pray. Rev David Pountain, a Baptist minister, understood the difficulties faced by non-religious pupils in acts of Collective Worship, and wondered if SACRE could offer them any advice. The RE advisor told SACRE that he thought it unwise to include anything in SACRE’s advice which could be seen to be undermining the law. He invited SACRE members to write to central government expressing their concerns, but this was not done. The advice as written was adopted, and will be sent to schools in due course.

SACRE’s annual report was presented and approved. It is noted there that only two of Cornwall’s thirty-one secondary schools comply fully with the Collective Worship requirement of the law.

The revision of the Agreed Syllabus for RE will begin in 2009, for completion in 2010.

SACRE’s annual lecture will be given by Dr Mark Chater on Monday 8th December in the Council Chamber at County Hall starting at 7.30pm. The title of his lecture is: Religious Education in the Curriculum –active partner or passive afterthought? As principle officer for RE at QCA he is a national authority on the subject.

This lecture is free, and is open to interested members of the public.

Peter Wood 12th November 2008