Agenda and minutes

To receive any declaration of interest from a Member or Officer in respect of any item of business.

None received.

To submit for confirmation, the draft minutes of the previous SAC meeting held on 17 October 2024.

Matters arising from the minutes: -

•  That the Chair’s Summary be included in Section 1.1 of the SACRE’s Annual Report.

•  That the Primary Senior Manager updates the self-evaluation template presented in the report, and,

•   presents amendments to the template in the SAC’s next meeting.

•   That a copy of the final version of the Anglesey SAC’s Annual Report for 2023/24 be forwarded to Welsh Government for information.

•   That the Primary Senior Manager arranges a visit to a secondary school on Anglesey in due course.

•   That the Primary Senior Manager contacts Jenny Downs from the Church in Wales to seek approval for the SAC to include the Church’s Section 50 reports as part of SAC’s evaluations of school inspections.

•   That the Primary Senior Manager invites the Diversity, Equality and Hate Crime Officer to attend the SAC’s next meeting in February to present an overview of the Police Officer’s work.

The draft minutes of the previous SAC meeting held on 17 October 2024 were presented and confirmed as correct, subject to the following: -

Matters arising from the minutes: -

•  It was noted that the Chair’s Summary has been included in Section 1.1 of the SAC’s Annual Report and forwarded to Welsh Government for information.

•  The Primary Senior Manager reported that he has updated the self-evaluation template presented in the report to include additional elements on Section 50 reports, which will be used for the next school visits.

•  It was confirmed that a visit has been arranged for members of the SAC to visit Ysgol y Graig, Llangefni, followed by Ysgol Gyfun, Llangefni in due course.

•  The Primary Senior Manager reported that he has contacted Jenny Downs from the Church in Wales to seek approval for the SAC to include the Church’s Section 50 reports as part of the SAC’s evaluations of school inspections.

RESOLVED that the Primary Senior Manager contacts the SAC’s Catholic Church representative to discuss amendments to the Section 50 reports template.

•  An invitation was forwarded to the North Wales Police Diversity, Equality and Hate Crime Officer to attend the SAC’s February meeting.  Unfortunately, the officer was unable to attend but will be invited to attend the next SAC meeting in July.

A member questioned whether the Head of Democracy had raised the issue of a vacant seat on the SAC with the relevant Group Leader.  It was confirmed that the Head of Democracy has spoken to the Group Leader, but a nomination has not been received to date.

a)  Religion, Values and Ethics Film

b)  The Teacher Voice Project: RVE in the Curriculum for Wales -

     To receive an update by the SAC’s Professional Consultant, Mr Phil Lord.  

(a)  The SAC’s RVE Advisor presented a video published by WASACRE.  The video informs schools what Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) might look like in the new curriculum.  The video focuses on exploring the big questions about the future, our world, and the people within it.  It also demonstrates how RVE helps us develop our own beliefs, values and informed responses in our ever changing world.

The SAC praised the video and noted that it summarises the main themes in the primary and secondary sectors.  The SAC’s teacher representative reported that it would be a great model for the Humanities Area of Learning and Experience and stated that she will use the video in her lessons.  The SAC felt that the topics referred to in the video will lead to interesting questions being raised.  It was also noted that WASACRE has got the right balance of Welsh and English in the video.

The Primary Senior Manager reported that a link to the video will be available on SharePoint, the schools bulletin and will be discussed in the Strategic Primary Forum.

RESOLVED that the Primary Senior Manager shares the link to the WASACRE video with schools.

(b)  The SAC’s RVE Advisor reported that ‘The Teacher Voice Project: RVE in the Curriculum for Wales’, is an RVE project by WASACRE aimed at teachers in Wales.  He stated that the survey will ask teachers about how well the new curriculum has been received, understood, and is being implemented across schools.  The Local Authority has been asked to promote an RVE questionnaire for WASACRE to carry out research on the Curriculum for Wales following feedback from the questionnaire.

RESOLVED that the Primary Senior Manager promotes the ‘Teacher Voice Project’ through the schools’ bulletin, face to face discussions and strategic forums.

To receive an update by the SAC’s Professional Consultant.

The RVE Advisor reported that the Governors’ Playlists are a very useful resource for Faith and Belief representatives and members.  He reminded the SAC how to access the bilingual playlists on the Welsh Government website Hwb.  He stated that the module to support Governors’ understanding of RVE refers to the rationale of how RVE fits in with the Humanities AoLE, and the reasons for the name change from Religious Education to RVE.

The Primary Senior Manager suggested adding the new Governors’ Playlist to the Governors’ Training Programme and arranging a training session for school Governors on the theme.  The option of presenting the Governors’ Playlist in a members’ briefing session was also considered.

RESOLVED: -

•  To note the information presented.

•  That the Primary Senior Manager adds the new Governors’ Playlist to

    the Governors’ Training Programme.

•  To convene a training session on the Governors’ Playlist and include

    the Playlist as an action point for members’ briefing sessions.

To receive a presentation by the SAC’s Professional Consultant.

The RVE Advisor reported that secondary Headteachers in Anglesey have received the presentation recently, to remind them of the mandatory aspect of RVE.  He stated that the presentation has been prepared in response to teachers questioning the statutory nature of RVE at KS4 for Years 10 and 11.

The RVE Advisor reported that the Curriculum for Wales was introduced in schools in 2022, when it was rolled out for different age groups, starting with pupils up to Year 7, followed by Years 8 and 9.  Next year, RVE will be rolled out for pupils in Year 10 and then Year 11.

The RVE Advisor gave an in depth summary of the following points: -

•  Legislation summary;

•  The mandatory status of RVE;

•  Religious and non-religious philosophical convictions;

•  The right to remove post 16 RVE has been removed;

•  Designing your RVE curriculum;

•  Spiritual development;

•  The RVE lenses;

•  Religious Education Guidance for 14 – 19 year olds;

•  National Qualifications - Skills for Life.

The Chair reported that positive feedback has been received from Headteachers who have viewed the presentation.  She stated that there is much enthusiasm on the curriculum in Years 10 and 11 at present.

The SAC’s teacher representative expressed concern on the timing of RVE in the curriculum and the rollout of the new GCSE, which will both be presented in September this year.  She stated that teachers from Anglesey schools will need to collaborate and support each other at this difficult time.

The RVE Advisor reported that Headteachers in Anglesey have agreed that all the Heads of Department will come together to discuss this issue in more detail.  It was highlighted that pupils will need to be informed of the purpose of the new GCSE course and teachers will need to convey this message. 

RESOLVED to note the information presented.

To receive a presentation by the SAC’s Professional Consultant.  

The RVE Advisor gave a presentation on planning Religion, Values and Ethics within the Curriculum for Wales for primary Teachers and Headteachers.  He stated that many primary schools in the Holyhead area have already received the presentation. 

The RVE Advisor gave a comprehensive summary of the following points: -

•  RVE Disciplines;

•  RVE Concepts;

•  RVE Lenses.

It was noted that the presentation is available bilingually with the option of recording a Welsh version to send out to schools.  The Primary Senior Manager noted that he would be happy to do a voice over.

RESOLVED: -

•  To note the information presented.

•  That the Primary Senior Manager records a Welsh version of the

    presentation for Primary Teachers.                                                                                                                                                                                         

To receive a presentation by Einir Williams, the Diversity, Equality and Hate Crime Officer from North Wales Police. 

It was noted that Einir Williams from North Wales Police was unable to attend today’s meeting due to illness.  She will be invited to attend the SAC’s next meeting.

RESOLVED to invite the Diversity, Equality and Hate Crime Officer to attend the SAC’s next meeting in July to give a presentation on her work for North Wales Police. 

Matters for the next meeting on 10 July 2025 at 2:00 pm.

A member of the SAC expressed concern regarding the future training of RVE teachers due to cuts to Religious Education teaching, particularly the Theology Department at Cardiff University.

Discussion focused on the current situation at Bangor University, where the name of the subject has been changed to History, Law and Sociology.  It was noted that Dr Gareth Evans-Jones is the only Lecturer at Bangor who teaches RVE through the medium of Welsh.

RESOLVED: -

•  That the Primary Senior Manager emails Dr Gareth Evans-Jones to

    seek clarification on the current situation in Bangor University, and

•   copies the Welsh Language Commissioner and the Minister for

    Education in Welsh Government, Lynne Neagle in the email. 

It was noted that the SAC’s next meeting will be held on 10 July 2024 at 2:00pm.