(a)

the two keynote speakers at the event were –

·         The Rt Hon Baroness Elizabeth Butler-Sloss GBE

·         Professor Adam Dinham

(b)

not enough SACREs were present to vote on any major constitutional changes;

(c)

a number of issues were discussed (including the marginalisation of RE);

(d)

digital audio files of some of the discussions, along with a PDF of Professor Dinham’s presentation were available on the NASACRE website here;

(e)

RE is the only subject that is not part of the National Curriculum and is locally determined through the Local Authority’s SACRE duty.

Plymouth RE Conference, LTLRE and the RE Hub

Katie Freeman, Primary Hub Leader, provided members with details of the recent Plymouth RE Conference, along with an update on recent activity within the

Plymouth Hub and the LTLRE project.  Members were advised that -

(a)

the second Plymouth RE Conference had recently been held.  The event was well attended by delegates from across Devon and Cornwall, along with members of the Red Cross.  Other attendees included the main speaker, Lat Blaylock (editor of RE Today) and a representative from the Plymouth Centre of Faiths and Cultural Diversity (PCFCD);

(b)

Katie had recently attended LTLRE conferences in Bedfordshire and  Birmingham;

(c)

funding had been secured to expand LTLRE into a region of the north of England;

(d)

Katie was currently supporting five schools through the RE Quality Mark (REQM) award scheme;

(e)

there had recently been a debate in the House of Commons on the issue of parental right of withdrawal [of their child/ren from RE] which had been well supported by MPS;

(f)

Katie had written an article for the TES (Times Educational Supplement) which was due to be published over the summer;

(g)

funding for LTLRE was in place for the remainder of this academic year and for the next conference, however the funding situation after this point was unknown.  The honorarium, previously paid to Hub Leaders was no longer available;

Following a discussion regarding funding for the LTLRE, the following suggestions were made –

·         SACRE to ask for continuation of funding for LTLRE

·         to seek assistance in applying for a grant

·         to contact NASACRE for assistance

·         to use Crowdfunding

(h)

Katie had recently undertaken training entitled ‘Understanding Christianity’ (written by RE Today team) and was provided with some outstanding resources which she shared with members.  She considered this training would be particularly beneficial for non-specialist teachers.

Katie Freeman received a vote of thanks from SACRE members for all the hard work she has undertaken for RE and SACRE.

Non-religious worldviews and the RE curriculum

Jonathan Marshall, RE Adviser, discussed the recent High Court ruling on Religious Education/Religious Studies examinations. This was an important legal case which attempted to clarify the law on RE.  It made clear that humanism should be studied but rejected the notion, promoted by the British Humanist Society, that all examination syllabuses should include humanism.  It was recommended that members look on the NASACRE website for further clarification and information on this important issue.

The Chair reminded members that part of the role of SACRE was to ensure all aspects of the syllabus were covered and it was important to monitor future developments, both locally and nationally.

Under this agenda item, Jonathan Marshall, RE Adviser, advised members that the Religious Education Council of England and Wales had recently launched a Commission on Religious Education ‘to review the legal, education, and policy frameworks for religious education (RE).  This review will be a wide-ranging, inclusive and evidence-based process designed to inform policy makers.  The ultimate aim will be to improve the quality and rigor of religious education and its capacity to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain’.