Agenda and minutes

215       APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE – Apologies were received from Cllr H Rayner, Mrs Bronwin Braisdell and Mrs L Jenman.

216 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTERESTS – No declarations of interest were received. 

217   QUORATE – The Clerk informed SACRE the meeting was not quorate.

218     MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING DATED 17 JANUARY 2021/ACTIONS ARISING - That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2021, having been circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded, and be signed by the Chair.

219     ANNUAL REPORT 2020 – Mrs J Taylor presented the Annual Report, for period January to December 2020.

During 2020 the emergence of Covid-19 led to the closure of schools and the arrangement of home learning for, effectively, the period from March until the end of the school year. Schools, through senior leaders, teachers and governors, as well as local authorities, have had to adapt to emerging guidance and complex situations.

North Lincolnshire Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) had supported schools during the pandemic by providing links to useful websites and on-line resources to complement the teaching of RE both in the classroom and remotely. Guidance had been offered with regards to collective worship.

Councils have a duty to set up a SCARE. The duties of the SACRE include gaining an overview of the quality of religious education provision in local authority-maintained schools and developing effective strategies to promote the highest standards.

The Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC) holds the legal responsibility for revising the Agreed Syllabus. The ASC members are all members of SACRE.

Recommended – (a) That the Annual Report is circulated for comments and consultation, and (b) that the Annual Report is approved by all members.

220     THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STANDING ADVISORY COUNCILS ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (NASAC) SACRE REPORT ON FUNDING – Mrs J Taylor presented the report.

The Department of Education had reported positively to NASACRE on this advice, acknowledging that its officials might use NASACRE’s estimate of a funding level of 2% of the CSSB to advise local authorities. However, authorities can, of course, determine their own budgets and where funding comes from to support SACREs.

As required under the 1988 Education Reform Act, all Local (Education) Authorities (LAs) were given a statutory duty to establish a Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE). In many areas they had existed prior to this date, to agree and support the local syllabus for RE. The latest guidance on RE confirms that “each LA must establish a permanent body called a standing advisory council on religious education”.

In North Lincolnshire the Local Authority currently provides sufficient funding for the; RE syllabus, SACRE Conference, governance and democratic support for the running of the SACRE, training and resources.

Recommended – That North Lincolnshire Council will provide funding for; RE syllabus, SACRE Conference, governance and democratic support for the running of the SACRE, training and resources.

221     SACRE ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2022 – Mrs J Taylor advised the SACRE Annual Conference 2022, will be held on Friday, 11 March 2022, 9am till 3pm, at Normanby Hall.

The conference is to support the delivery of RE in delivering the agreed syllabus. Leading experts and speakers, both locally and nationally have been invited. This includes; Lat Blaylock, Editor RE today, Consultant and Advisor, Dr Kate Christopher, Lead Consultant Professional Development for Culham St Gabriel’s Trust and Catriona Card, Teacher North Lincolnshire.

Recommended – That SACRE members attend and support the SCARE Annual Conference.

222     NASACRE VIRTUAL TRAINING PLAN 2021-22 – Mrs J Taylor presented the NASACRE virtual training plan 2021-22, for information and perusal.

223     DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING – Recommended – Mrs V Oxley to circulate schedule of future meetings.