Agenda item

When considering the reproduction and launch of the Syllabus SACRE members agreed on the following points:

·         Jo Fageant would send costings of using a Graphic Designer to reproduce the Syllabus to Martin Surrell. Costs would be shared with neighbouring local authorities and therefore may be more cost effective than using in-house printing. Martin Surrell would then make a decision as to whether this is viable or in-house printing would be more cost effective.

(Action: Jo Fageant/Martin Surrell)

·         West Berkshire had prepared a cover and folder for the last Syllabus, Jo to send costings to Martin. Martin to advise if this is feasible within budget constraints.

(Action: Jo Fageant/Martin Surrell)

·         Jo would lead the Teacher Training Event on 5 July between 1-4.30pm at the Easthampstead Conference Centre. Martin Surrell would send invites to all Primary RE Co-ordinators and Secondary head teachers. The invite would be extended to teachers outside of Bracknell Forest if there were any spaces left. Martin would send a ‘newsflash’ email to all RE teaching staff in Bracknell Forest with details of the event.

(Action: Jo Fageant/Martin Surrell)

·         Jo would send Martin a paragraph describing the Teacher Training Event for inclusion in the invite letters.

(Action: Jo Fageant)

·         The Teacher Training Event would conclude at 4.30pm and the Syllabus Launch would then take place. Martin would send invitation to the following for the Syllabus Launch:

-          Primary Co-ordinators of RE/ Secondary Heads of RE

-          The Director of Children, Young People & Learning

-          The Executive Member for Children, Young People & Learning

-          SACRE Members

(Action: Martin Surrell)

·         Jo would send the finalised Syllabus and appendices to Martin and Priya to be approved by the Executive Member for Children, Young People & Learning. Priya to circulate finalised appendices to SACRE members.

(Action: Jo Fageant/ Priya Patel)

·         Jo to send Paula a paragraph around the positive contribution of faith groups to the Syllabus, for inclusion in Paula’s introduction.

(Action: Jo Fageant)

·         Paula would say a few words to introduce the Syllabus Launch.

(Action: Paula Ridgway)

·         The autumn termly meeting of Primary RE Co-ordinators would provide a good opportunity for Martin and/or Jo to attend and speak to Co-ordinators about the Syllabus. Martin and Jo to liaise to arrange attendance at this meeting.

(Action: Martin Surrell)

·         In addition, RE Secondary School teachers could be invited to attend the RE Co-ordinators Day. Invite to come from Martin and to include Jo and Sam Hunt.

(Action: Martin Surrell)

SACRE Members considered the revised Syllabus:

Jo reported that in order for the Revised Syllabus to be approved, representatives of the four groups on SACRE would need to be present and indicate their unanimous approval of the Syllabus. It was established that representatives of all four groups were present.

Jo reported that the Syllabus was now complete however the appendices were not yet finalised as information from the B’hai faith was still awaited.

• Jo reported that the meeting on 19 March with faith groups had been very positive with some excellent input from faith representatives. In addition, Jo reported that she had been in touch with faith groups following the meeting to obtain explanatory material. The reports of the working groups had been available on the West Berkshire website for a number of weeks allowing all interested parties to comment. Jo stated that appendices would be complete by the end of May and would be sent to SACRE members.

Jo outlined the changes to the Syllabus since SACRE members had seen it at their last meeting:

• Introductory pages 5-7 had been added and pages 10-12 in previous Syllabus had been removed. This made the introduction briefer and more succinct.
• Information around how to use the Key Stage sections had been added.
• Key Stage questions had been unpacked and were smaller more manageable questions and only the emboldened questions were compulsory.

It was noted that the appendices had been agreed by faith groups and were available on the Berkshire West website for members to view. Jo would make some minor amendments before sending the appendices to the clerk to circulate to SACRE members.

SACRE members unanimously agreed that the revised Syllabus and its corresponding appendices be approved and sent to the Executive Member for Children, Young People & Learning to be approved.

SACRE members that had attended the faith workshops, stated that they had felt a real sense of achievement from participating in the preparation of the revised Syllabus.

Jo reported that as a result of valuable input from faith groups, the content of the Syllabus was more specialised and authentic. The additional guidance in the Syllabus would also be of benefit to teachers.

The Chairman suggested that at the SACRE meeting in July members could consider how they could continue to support the Syllabus, this could be in terms of creating support material or signposting useful background information, resources and websites.