The School's Adjudication and Religious Education Committee (SACRE) met on Wednesday 13 October 2021 to discuss various aspects of Religious Education (RE) provision in Newham's schools. Key decisions included noting updates on student RE activities, agreeing to a proposal for a 'Friends of SACRE' initiative, and confirming revisions to the SACRE's constitution and code of conduct.

Student RE Matters

Catriona Martin provided an update on the recent activities and future plans for Student SACRE. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-21 project focused on Ecology in RE and resulted in a multimedia information pack, which was due to be launched soon. For the 2021-2022 academic year, the chosen topic is Talking Faith, with students delivering RE lessons in their primary schools at the project's conclusion. Faith leaders were invited to attend the next project meeting, and appointments to the Student SACRE executive were to be made in November. The SACRE resolved to note this update.

2021 SACRE Priorities

Claire Clinton, RE Adviser to SACRE, reported that most schools had completed their monitoring forms using a positive feedback-generating Google forms format, which was suggested for future use. Training on the new format and content of the Annual Report, revised in line with how schools operate, had been delivered by NASACRE. This year, there was no exam analysis due to the pandemic's impact on schooling, leading to teacher assessments replacing formal exams. Despite this, Newham schools achieved the best national results for RE study and achievement. Discussions also covered the review of SACRE membership and constitution. The Poetry competition launched in 2020 was successful, with winners' poems published online. The upcoming Place of Worship competition was announced, and network meetings, training, and Early Career Teacher (ECT) support sessions were ongoing. Ms. Clinton would continue as RE consultant, and a draft new syllabus was to be considered at a special meeting in December 2021.

Monitoring of RE and Corporate Worship

The SACRE reviewed the annual NATRE data on the percentage of time allocated to RE and corporate worship in secondary schools. Concerns were raised that some schools were allocating less time than recommended, and that inaccurate reporting could lead to disparities in performance comparisons and poor monitoring. It was proposed and seconded that the RE Adviser investigate and discuss with schools whether the reported data accurately reflected their activities and curriculum time for RE and Corporate Worship, and to support schools in improving this reporting. The SACRE resolved to note the data and discussion, with an action request for the RE Adviser to commission work investigating how RE teaching was recorded.

'Friends of SACRE' Initiative

The RE Adviser proposed broadening access to faith leaders and experts, particularly for faiths with smaller demographic representation in the local community. This Friends of SACRE initiative aims to ensure the quality of advice provided by SACRE without delaying work, by drawing on a pool of agreed individuals when specific expertise is needed. The SACRE considered how advice would be credited and how individuals would be identified, agreeing that a list of faith advisers/contacts or subject experts would be appropriate. The SACRE resolved to note the discussion and agreed to the proposal, with an action request for the RE Adviser to draw up a list of approved individuals.

Review of SACRE Constitution

The SACRE undertook a review of its constitution. Members discussed the Terms of Reference and Code of Conduct. The approach of SACRE members attending school visits as invited guests, not inspectors, was endorsed. The Code of Conduct's content was deemed relevant and appropriate. Regarding attendance and quorum, the NASACRE model membership follow-up and removal letters would be used for non-attendance without apologies. A proposal would be referred to the Local Authority (LA) to relax quorum requirements to permit meetings with virtual attendance, ensuring a quorum could be better achieved. The SACRE agreed to this referral. An amendment to the Code of Conduct was also agreed upon, to clarify the encouragement for members to attend meetings and participate fully. The SACRE resolved to note the review discussion, confirm the Terms of Reference subject to the LA's decision on virtual attendance for quorum, and confirm the Code of Conduct subject to the outlined revision.

Agreed Syllabus Working Groups Update and Plans

The agreed syllabus is currently being reviewed, with teachers in working groups updating schemes of work and materials. The SACRE resolved to note this update.

Agreed Syllabus Training and Launch

Dates were set for new syllabus training days: Primary on 20th June 2022, Early Years on 21st June 2022, and Secondary on 22nd June 2022. The official New Syllabus Launch was scheduled for 23rd June at 4:30 pm at East Ham Public Hall. The clerk was asked to invite the Mayor of Newham to the launch. The SACRE resolved to note the discussion and dates.

Poetry Competition 2021 Reflection

Positive feedback was received from schools regarding the 2021 poetry competition, themed Hope, which replaced the usual places of worship competition. The poems produced were seen as useful resources for schools and could be shared with faith leaders. It was suggested that schools be encouraged to use these poems as teaching resources. The SACRE resolved to note the update and discussion.

Places of Worship Competition 2022

For 2022, the place of worship competition will take the format of an art competition. Judging will take place in June 2022, with the celebration event for winners on 6th or 7th July to avoid clashes with the New Syllabus launch. The venue will be the school that wins the most places. Entries close at the end of May 2022. The SACRE resolved to note the update.

Meetings for the Next Year and Venues

Remaining SACRE dates were noted as 1st December 2021 at 6:00 pm and 9th February 2022. The clerk was asked to investigate alternative venues for the 9th February meeting due to a clash. The SACRE would also meet on 8th June at East Ham Town Hall. The SACRE resolved to note the update.

Information Items from NASACRE

Information was provided on upcoming NASACRE national training sessions, including workshops on world views, training for effective Chairs, exemplar schemes of work on world views, and self-evaluation toolkit training. The SACRE resolved to note this training information.

Any Other Business

Interfaith Week was scheduled for 15-22 November 2021, with activities including a bus tour of places of worship, a discussion on Israel/Palestine, and a film screening. An update on collective worship would be needed soon after the launch of Newham's new agreed syllabus. The next meeting of the National Federation of Faith Schools (NFF) would cover faith and violence towards women and girls. Saquat Ali had been accepted for the role of NASACRE National Treasurer.