The SACRE meeting on 10 June 2024 focused primarily on the ongoing syllabus review, with significant discussions on the draft syllabus and its alignment with current educational standards and requirements. The meeting also covered updates on the state of Wokingham schools, the development plan and budget, and national updates related to religious education.

Syllabus Review

Angela Hill, Religious Education Advisor, provided an update on the syllabus review. The draft syllabus is still under development and aims to be more academically rigorous and inclusive of various religious and non-religious worldviews. The goal is to have a more finished version ready for a vote in November. Angela highlighted the importance of reflecting recent Ofsted reports and academic thinking in the new syllabus. The draft has received a warm reception so far, but there are ongoing consultations with stakeholders, including faith representatives and teachers.

Feedback and Concerns

Several members raised concerns about the draft syllabus. Shira Solomons expressed that the new syllabus seemed to revert to a more Christocentric view, which could marginalize religions like Judaism that focus more on behavior and community rather than belief. She emphasized the need for the syllabus to reflect the experiential and communal aspects of religions. Other members, including representatives from the Muslim community, also voiced concerns about the inclusivity and representation of their faiths in the syllabus.

Consultation and Next Steps

Angela Hill assured members that their feedback would be taken seriously and incorporated into the next iteration of the syllabus. The plan is to continue refining the draft based on the feedback received and to have a more comprehensive version ready for discussion in the autumn. An extraordinary meeting may be set up to discuss the draft syllabus further.

Updates from Wokingham Schools

Emily Waddilove provided an update on the current state of Wokingham schools. Key challenges include recruitment and retention of staff, financial pressures, and an increase in demand for SEND support services. Despite these challenges, schools are working hard to support students' academic progress and wellbeing.

Development Plan and Budget

The Chairman confirmed that the primary focus for the SACRE would be the syllabus review. The development plan and budget updates were noted, with Wokingham being in a better financial position than many other local authorities.

National Updates

Angela Hill presented national updates, including a letter to Ofsted highlighting the lack of comments about Religious Education and Collective Worship in their inspection reports. The SACRE unanimously supported Angela's proposal to write to Ofsted about this issue. Other updates included new training opportunities and resources for teachers, such as the RE Connect Teacher Fellowship Programme.

Constitution Amendments

Emily Waddilove informed members about proposed amendments to the SACRE's constitution to enable humanists to have full membership in Group A. The proposal received general agreement from the members present.

Future Meetings

The dates for the next meetings were confirmed as 19 February 2024 (via Microsoft Teams) and 10 June 2024 (face-to-face at the council offices in Shute End). An extraordinary meeting may be set up to discuss the draft syllabus.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the minutes of the previous meeting and the public reports pack.