Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Rebekah Ackroyd, County Councillor Terry Aldridge, Rabbi Robert Ash, Kathleen Cooper, Lisa Fenton, Ahmed James, County Councillor Stewart Jones, Ben McMullan, County Councillor Yousuf Motala, Kelsang Pagpa, Keith Pennington, Helen Sage, Harsha Shukla and Francis Williams.

It was noted that the meeting was inquorate as, whilst at least one representative was present from each of the four representative groups, a total of only six members was present, the minimum requirement being eight.

The Clerk reported that Rabbi Robert Ash had submitted his resignation from the SACRE due to increasing commitments elsewhere. A replacement representative would be sought from the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2023 were considered to be a true and accurate record.

Rachel Mort, Cobbs Brow Primary School, Skelmersdale; Michelle Smith, Westhead Lathom St James CofE Primary School, Ormskirk; and Natasha Finch, Mount Pleasant Primary School, Clayton-le-Moors will attend and make presentations.

Attached, for information, is a presentation from St Stephen's CofE Primary School, Preston, representatives of which were unable to attend the meeting.

Peter Martin, Chair, welcomed Michelle Smyth, Westhead Lathom St James CofE Primary School, Ormskirk and Natasha Finch, Mount Pleasant Primary School, Clayton-le-Moors, RE Subject Leaders, who gave presentations on aspects of best practice linked to the Lancashire Agreed Syllabus in their respective schools. Sarah from Sherwood Primary School, Preston, also attended and gave an overview of best practice at the school.

A presentation from St Stephen's CofE Primary School, Preston was included as part of the agenda pack, a representative of the school having not been able to attend the meeting.

The Chair and SACRE Members thanked Michelle, Natasha and Sarah for their attendance and thanked them for their interesting and informative presentations and overview of the excellent work which was being undertaken in their respective schools.

The SACRE is asked to consider whether, under the Religious Education (Meetings of Local Conferences and Councils) Regulations 1994 it considers that the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that the documents are draft and/or for consultation and/or consideration by the members of SACRE prior to the final document being published.

Under the Religious Education (Meetings of Local Conferences and Councils) Regulations 1994, it was noted that the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business, 'Item 5 - Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 Survey Analysis'.

It was noted that no members of the public were present.

Alison Lloyd, Special Support Adviser, School Improvement Service, presented private and confidential information, which was circulated at the meeting, setting out outcomes from the Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 Religious Education Self-Evaluation Survey 2022.

It was noted that, following a low response rate in September 2022, the self-evaluation survey had been re-sent to secondary schools in February 2023 and was sent directly to headteachers by e-mail rather than being posted on the Schools' Portal as previously.

An additional number of schools had since responded but the response rate remained low.

Further consideration and discussion would take place at the next meeting of the SACRE'S Quality and Standards Sub-group on 7 June.

Alison Lloyd presented Key Stage 5 attainment and progress data for 2022.

It was noted that there had been an increased take up of RE at 'A' Level.

The written report provided by Peter Lumsden, Building Bridges Burnley, was noted.

Given the poor attendance of Members at recent meetings, in particular this meeting, the Chair indicated that he would write to all SACRE Members on the matter.

The Chair indicated that he would make reference to the importance of the Member Profiles in his letter to SACRE Members. Those present noted that having profiles for all SACRE Members would assist in raising awareness of the role and work of the SACRE whilst, at the same time, increasing its visibility.

John Wilson suggested that, having received the presentations from primary sector RE Subject Leaders, it would be useful to invite secondary sector RE Subject Leaders to attend a future meeting to give similar presentations on best practice linked to the Lancashire Agreed Syllabus.

No observer contributions were made.

Members noted that, since the publication of the agenda, one item of correspondence (SACRE Newsletter, Issue 14, Summer 2023) had been received and circulated.

The Clerk also reported that, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Pupil Voice Key Stage 3 due to have taken place on Tuesday 27 June at County Hall would need to be re-arranged. A new date would be circulated in due course.

The next scheduled meeting of the SACRE will be held at 10.00am on Monday 10 July 2023 in Committee Room 'D', County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Lancashire SACRE would be held at 10.00am on Monday 10 July 2023 in Committee Room 'D', County Hall, Preston.