Agenda and draft minutes

To appoint a Chair of SACRE for the academic year 2024/25

RESOLVED that Vicki Gibson, Group A: Christian Denominations and Other Religions be appointed Chair for the academic year 2024/25.

To appoint a Vice-Chair for the academic year 2024/25

RESOLVED that Clare Hawkins, Group C: Teachers and Teachers’ Vice-Chair for the academic year 2024/25.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 13 March 2024 and 9 July 2024 (advisory)

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 9 July 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To include time for discussion and voting in groups on Agreed Syllabus

Vicki Gibson, Chair, thanked all SACRE members for their support in developing the final draft of the Agreed Syllabus. Vicki commented that the final version felt like a genuinely collaborative syllabus. The Berkshire SACRE advisors had done their best to incorporate all ideas where possible and had taken on board all feedback.

SACRE members commented that while the final document was welcomed, the process of writing the syllabus had, at times, felt unwieldy and that it had been difficult to keep on top of versions and amendments. It was also commented that decisions whether to include or reject suggestions had not always been communicated clearly. It was commented that in the next iteration of the syllabus, a feedback loop would be essential.

SACRE members commended the hard work from the advisors to the Berkshire SACREs.

SACRE members met in their groups to discuss the proposed syllabus.

Having discussed the matter, it was RESOLVED that the pan-Berkshire syllabus be adopted by Bracknell Forest SACRE, and recommended to the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning for formal adoption.

It was commented that there may be a Bracknell Forest specific addendum added by some local faith representatives.

Anne Andrews advised that the pan-Berkshire syllabus launch had been booked at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Winnersh on 27 March 2025, 2 to 6pm. Each SACRE would be allocated 25 spaces for teacher representatives from their local authority area to attend the training event.

It was noted that any remaining syllabus budget would be redistributed to each SACREs to go towards their local launch arrangements.

SACRE members discussed the possibility of a Bracknell Forest specific launch, which could link into the artefacts work and promote any local addendums to the syllabus. SACRE agreed in principle that a launch event should be held at the library, subject to budget provision.

There was no other business.