The SACRE meeting included the presentation of its annual report for the 2023-24 academic year, alongside discussions on a range of other matters including support for schools and updates from the Wales Association of Standing Advisory Councils on Religion, Values and Ethics / Religious Education (WASACRE).

Newport SACRE Annual Report 2023-24

The meeting included the presentation of the Newport SACRE Annual Report 2023-24 which describes the work of the committee over the previous year.

The report describes its duty to advise Newport City Council on:

worship, religious education and Religion, Values and Ethics to be given in accordance with the agreed syllabus including methods of teaching, advice on materials, and the provision of training for teachers.

It explains how the committee monitored standards in Religious Education in Newport schools, in part by:

regularly review[ing] relevant sections of Estyn school inspection reports for Newport schools.

The report states that:

No applications were received from schools for determinations to be made on the lifting of the requirements for collective worship to be wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character.

The report concludes by listing all of the organisations that it planned to share the report with.

Youth SACRE

The meeting agenda included an item on Youth SACRE . The previous meeting's minutes record that:

SACRE/SAC have agreed to co-opt two youth representatives onto the Committee and work is ongoing in this area.

WASACRE Business

The agenda included an item on WASACRE Business , which the previous meeting minutes tell us related to a recent conference that:

aimed to celebrate RVE in the Curriculum for Wales and provided various opportunities for participants

Newport Schools Feedback

The previous meeting on 2 July 2024 included a discussion of feedback from schools in Newport.

The meeting was told that:

The representative from Southeast Wales Education Achievement Service (EAS) introduced the item, noting that there was no feedback from schools Cluster Conversations this half term but that they have been in communication with schools within the city.

The meeting discussed the possible use of lead practice schools to share best practice.

There was a discussion of the Welsh Government guidance on the teaching of Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) in the Curriculum for Wales.¹ The meeting was told that:

The forum highlighted the comments of the Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Education in a recent report on the importance of considering schools who might need support in developing the new curriculum.

The minutes conclude by reporting that:

The forum also raised concerns that changes to the curriculum contribute to uncertainty and a failure of confidence among teachers in delivering the curriculum.