Agenda and draft minutes

To welcome the attendees and note any apologies for absence.

The Chair welcomed the Attendees to the Meeting and noted that apologies had been received form Niel Apps, Cllr Frances Nicholson, Cllr Sarah Wakefield and Pat Ebdon.

To provide an update on the Membership of SACRE.

The Chair welcomed Dr Megan Daffern, the new general representative on SACRE nominated by the Diocese of Bath and Wells and Paul Marvin, the new representative on SACRE nominated by the C of E Trust.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes were approved as an accurate record.

None were Received.

To receive an account of the worldview of Bernie Kerr.

The Chair Invited Bernie Kerr to give an overview of his faith.

Bernie was raised in the Baha'i faith by their mother, who converted from Roman Catholicism. The Baha'i faith emphasises the oneness of God, the oneness of religion, and the oneness of humanity. These principles have been foundational throughout his life. Bernie experienced a period of moving away from the Baha'i teachings and exploring agnostic atheism before rediscovering and re-embracing the faith. A realisation for Bernie was the concept of apophatic theology, which refers to understanding God as beyond words and comprehension. This concept became integral to their worldview.

Bernie revisited the Baha'i writings and found that they resonated deeply with his evolved understanding. They re-enrolled as a Baha'i about 12 years ago. Bernie’s current worldview is a blend of Baha'i principles and apophatic theology, emphasising the search for truth and light in all religious traditions.

Bernie expressed a desire to be more involved in religious education, highlighting the importance of introducing children to complex theological concepts and the diversity within religious traditions. Bernie raised that traditional RE often focuses on tangible aspects like rituals and attire, but there is a need to delve into deeper theological concepts to provide a more comprehensive understanding.

The Chair thanked Bernie for his contribution.

To be provided by Ruth Marks.

The Chair invited Ruth Marks to present.

Ruth Marx introduced the Tower Hamlets project, which involved creating videos of individuals discussing their worldviews and their connection to Tower Hamlets. The project is aimed to provide real-life perspectives for RE lessons. The project is funded by Culham St Gabriel's and includes interviews with people who had lived, worked or studied in Tower Hamlets. The interviewees shared their personal experiences and how their worldviews influenced their lives and actions in the borough.

Ruth highlighted the importance of local context in religious education and suggested that a similar project could be implemented in Somerset. Ruth raised that such projects could foster a sense of pride and relevance among students regarding their local area. The project includes a variety of worldviews, and Ruth used three consistent questions in the interviews: what defines or shapes your worldview, what role does it play in your life and actions in Tower Hamlets, and what is the best thing about Tower Hamlets.

The presentation emphasised the value of hearing diverse voices and the potential for enhancing students' understanding of different worldviews. Ruth also mentioned the possibility of creating a walking tour in Tower Hamlets based on the locations mentioned by the interviewees. The project has been well-received, and Ruth expressed her hope that other SACREs might adopt a similar approach to highlight the unique religious and cultural landscapes of their local areas.

During the Item, the following points were raised:

·       How the project could be adapted to fit the local context of Somerset, considering the differences in geographical and cultural settings compared to Tower Hamlets.

·       The importance of involving local people and their stories in the project was highlighted, ensuring that the content is relevant and engaging for students in Somerset.

·       The challenge of finding participants and suggested that showing examples of the project could help in explaining it to potential participants.

·       the technical and logistical aspects of creating such a project, including the need for permissions and ensuring accurate representation.

·       The educational value of the project and its potential to enhance RE teaching.

·       The possibility of seeking funding from Culham St Gabriel's to support the project in Somerset.

To be presented by Rebekah Guy, Primary RE Advisor, and Shell Sullivan, Secondary RE Advisor.

The Chair invited Rebekah Guy to present.

Rebekah introduced the WIRE (Widen and Inclusivity in Religious Education) Award, aimed at raising the profile of RE and encouraging schools to engage in activities beyond standard RE lessons. Schools must meet three criteria to achieve the award:

·       Attend a piece of CPD related to RE, such as those offered by the Somerset Learn, Teach, Lead RE Hub.

·       Arrange a visit to a place of worship that is not the main belief of the school.

·       Engage in an RE-related community event or competition, such as inviting parents to school or participating in an RE competition.

The award consists of a certificate. Schools can apply for the award, and after a few years, a higher level such as the Gold WIRE Award. The award would be valid for 2-3 years.

During the item, the following points were raised:

·       Paul suggested offering a free membership to one of the SACRE boxes from the school's library service as an alternative prize for the wire award. Rebekah clarified that other SACRES typically offer a certificate in a frame as the award.

·       Discussion on whether the award should be a one-time thing or need to be renewed every year. Rebekah mentioned that it could be valid for a year or longer, and schools might need to reapply.

·       A suggestion was made to offer a grant of £200 towards transport costs for school visits to places of worship. Rebekah mentioned that another SACRE offers £200 for the first five schools to apply.

·       Question on how to advertise the award. Rebekah suggested sending it out in the spring newsletter and advertising it at the hubs.

·       The importance of facilitating school visits to different places of worship, emphasising the educational outcomes and the need for grants to support these visits.

·       Discussion on the budget and how much could be allocated for supporting school visits.

To be presented by Rebekah Guy, Primary RE Advisor.

The Chair invited Rebekah Guy to present.

Rebekah introduced the National Content Standard (RECS) toolkit developed by the Religious Education Council of England and Wales. The SACRE Membership were divided into three groups to review different sections of the toolkit, focusing on various types of worldviews: organised and individual worldviews, religious worldviews, and non-religious worldviews.

Membership split into 10-minute breakout rooms upon rejoining each group summarised their section, discussed the advantages and challenges of including these worldviews in RE lessons, and shared their findings with the whole group.

·       Group 1 (Organised and Individual Worldviews): Organised worldviews are hierarchical with agreed structures, while individual worldviews are diverse and adaptive. Advantages include deeper understanding and personal relevance. Challenges include curriculum time constraints and the need for teacher training.

·       Group 2 (Religious Worldviews): Emphasised the diversity within religious traditions and the different journeys and relationships individuals have with their faith. Advantages include a more lived and realistic understanding; challenges include balancing depth and breadth and the complexity for non-specialist teachers.

·       Group 3 (Non-Religious Worldviews): Highlighted the complexity and diversity of non-religious worldviews, focusing on values and connections to the world.

Advantages include inclusivity and validation of different perspectives; challenges include defining non-religious terms and finding resources.

The workshop aimed to provide insights into the different types of worldviews and their relevance to the RE syllabus, emphasising the importance of a comprehensive and inclusive approach to religious education.

To receive an update on the Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC) from the committee Chair, Shell Sullivan, and Vice-Chair, Rebekah Guy.

The Chair invited Rebekah Guy and Shell Sullivan to update the Membership.

Rebecca and Shell have been actively working on the ASC document and supporting schools. Rebecca attended the Learn Teach Lead RE Hub leaders training day, and both advisors have supported primary and secondary schools. A hub meeting was held in September, focusing on the Ofsted report "Deeper Meaningful Reports." An in-person hub meeting is planned for the spring term at Wells Cathedral.

the ASC has had three meetings so far, with a fourth meeting planned but cancelled last Wednesday. The focus has been on developing the agreed syllabus, with significant discussions on the aims and purposes of RE, the locality element, and the golden thread of "Journey of the Somer People." The ASC decided to use a sample syllabus from the REC toolkit to create the new syllabus unfortunately the ASC were not allowed to use it. However Norfolk is open arms and the ASC can still use the REC Toolkit. This approach aims to provide a good enough syllabus for teachers, despite the limited time available. An exemplar has been created to guide teachers, and curriculum resources will be provided to support the locality element. Members of the ASC have agreed to write parts of the locality unit. The syllabus will include an introductory section, a process section explaining content selection, inquiry questions, teaching methods, and assessment, and the syllabus itself. The process section is crucial for helping teachers understand how to teach in a multidisciplinary worldviews approach.

The next ASC meeting is scheduled for early January to continue refining the syllabus. The goal is to present a draft syllabus to the SACRE meeting in March for feedback and further refinement.

During the Item the following points were raised:

·       A comment was made appreciating the "Journeys of the Somerset People" as the golden thread, highlighting its relevance and potential to integrate locality elements effectively.

·       A request was made for Sacre members to help with the context section of the syllabus, providing insights into what it is like to live in Somerset.

To be provided by Alison Jeffery, Head of Curriculum and Literacy.

The Chair invited Alison Jeffrey to present.

Alison provided an update on the ongoing membership of NASACRE, highlighting the benefits and resources available to SACRE members. Members have access to a wealth of information, including training sessions, resources, and general updates on religious education. NASACRE offers both virtual and face-to-face training sessions, as well as networking events. Alison is currently awaiting the membership number and login details, which will be shared with SACRE members to enable access to the NASACRE resources.

Members were encouraged to utilise these resources to enhance their knowledge and contributions to SACRE meetings, ensuring they are well-informed and up to date with current practices and policies in religious education.

To receive the report presented by Louise Jenkins.

The Chair invited Louise Jenkins to preset the report.

Lousie mentioned the education team at the diocese has undergone significant changes with the retirement of Pauline, David, and Karen. The team now consists of two members, one focusing on supporting trust schools and the other on maintained schools. Six SIAMS inspections have been conducted this term. One school received an 'Outstanding' outcome, with RE highlighted as an area of strength in one report. The report noted the curriculum's order, sequence, breadth, and content, emphasising its support for pupils' return to cycles of learning. The inspections identified strengths in the school's vision, inclusion, care, and Christian character. These aspects were noted as being well-lived out within the school community. The inspections also highlighted areas for improvement, particularly in developing robust assessment systems to measure progress in RE. This was explicitly mentioned in one report, indicating a need for better systems to ensure teachers can effectively measure and track student progress. The diocese has provided online training for new RE leads, focusing on helping them understand their role and responsibilities. Additionally, a two-day training session on understanding Christianity was conducted, which was well-received. An RE conference is planned for 2nd May. The conference aims to explore worldviews approaches and is open to all schools.

To receive an update on SACRE’s budget from Alison Jeffery, Head of Curriculum and Literacy.

The Chair invited Alison Jeffrey to provide the update.

Alison introduced the update, SACRE has an annual allocation of £15,000 from the DSG funding, with an additional £15,000 allocated for the ASC process until its completion. This funding is intended to support the development and implementation of the agreed syllabus. The budget is planned at the beginning of the financial year, covering costs such as RE advisors, membership fees, and other necessary expenses. The supplies and services budget includes costs for advisory services and memberships, such as the NASACRE membership. There are approximately £3,000 of unspent funds in the current financial year. This remaining budget could be utilised for additional initiatives or resources before the end of the financial year. Due to delays in the ASC process, there is a significant amount of the ASC budget remaining. A carry forward request may be necessary to support the syllabus development and implementation next financial year. The bulk of the work and development stage is expected to occur in the next financial year, justifying the need for a carry forward.

During the Item the following points were raised:

·       It was suggested that the remaining funds could be used to subsidise school trips to religious sites or support other initiatives. This could include providing grants to schools for transport costs to visit places of worship, enhancing the educational experience for students.

·       There were suggestions to contribute to the Somerset and Frank project and other local RE initiatives.

To give a verbal update from the Chair on the final SACRE Draft Constitution.

A candle holder made from local willow has been created for Holocaust Memorial Day. It will be displayed at the events on January 27th. The candle holder will go on tour to schools and events after the Memorial Day. Community groups, schools, churches, and faith groups will have the opportunity to make their own candle holders. The candle holder includes flowers representing the colours of the people who suffered during the Holocaust and genocides.

An invitation was extended for a VIP event on January 23rd at Glades offices in Bridgewater. The event will feature Lord Shah, the Under Secretary and Parliamentary Secretary for Local Government, and the CEO of the Holocaust Memorial Trust.

The Trust has invited the candle holder to be filmed for use in their 2025 launch. The project aims to have 80 candle holders dotted around Somerset, marking 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz and 40 years since the Bosnian genocide. The Somerset Interfaith Network website will provide more information and materials related to the project.

Next Meeting is 12 March 2025.

The Chair confirmed that the next Meeting was scheduled for 12^th March at 2pm at Broughton House.

The Chair requested a volunteer to give their worldview at the next meeting in March; Rhona Burfield volunteered.