Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2016 were approved as a correct record.

With regard to the minutes of the previous meeting, the following updates were given:

·         It had been clarified that funding would be available for the review of syllabus in Local Authority areas.

·         The Annual Report had been sent to NASACRE and the Department for Education.

·         The Crossing the Bridges material was now available on the Bracknell Forest Schools Management website, at the following address: http://schools.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/training/education-centre/resource-centre/sacre-and-re-resources

·         It was commented that a positive response had been received from Brakenhale school regarding their RE GSCE provision. The issues had been addressed, and students were being entered for RE GSCE examinations in 2017.

Responses to a request for Collective Worship policies had been received from 14 out of 25 possible schools. SACRE suggested that a reminder may be issued to the 11 schools who had not responded.

SACRE discussed what could be offered to assist schools who found provision of collective worship, and ideas included offering assemblies to schools, or supplying a ‘best practice’ example collective worship policy. It was proposed that an assembly could be delivered by SACRE members around themes such as the harvest festival in autumn. Anne Andrews agreed to discuss the ideas with the Diocese Collective Worship representative. (Action: Anne Andrews)

Areas of concern were identified within the policies, and it was agreed that these would be raised with officers to liaise with the affected schools.

It was agreed that a form for requests for determinations would be created for the next meeting. (Action: Anne Andrews)

It was agreed that reminders would be sent to the outstanding schools, with a reminder of what a collective worship policy should include. (Action: Lizzie Rich)

Anne Andrews reported that twelve people had attended the most recent subject leader training, which was pleasing.

Attendees had commented that they liked the current syllabus, although they felt it was too long and needed a broader range of faiths.  

Tracey Williams informed SACRE of a Crossing the Bridges trip around different places of worship in Berkshire which would be attended by Tracey and Anne.

SACRE was informed that the directory information sheet for Crossing the Bridges participants was now available, and members were encouraged to get places of worship they knew of to register. It was recognised that there was currently only one Bracknell church registered.

Anne Andrews commented that Crossing the Bridges was going well, and further take up from schools was anticipated.

SACRE discussed their answers to the NASACRE Big RE Survey in order to submit a co-ordinated response.

Anne Andrews asked if SACRE members were happy for her to represent Bracknell Forest at the NASACRE AGM on 16 May 2017 in York, and SACRE confirmed this.

There was no significant syllabus update to be given, although it was recognised that meetings and discussions about the budget for the work would be ongoing.

Anne Andrews commented on the need to restructure the SACRE constitution to reflect the religious make up of Bracknell Forest.

For example, it was noted that due to recent resignations from SACRE, Group A had only 4 members of a possible 10.

It was recognised that difficulties in recruiting to Committees was true across the Council. SACRE agreed that further investigation would be done into the constitution, and amendments would be proposed where necessary.

Manfred Lemke informed SACRE that this meeting would be his last, as he was moving to Iceland. A replacement Free Church representative would be sought.

The next meeting was scheduled for 15 June 2017.