Agenda and minutes

To receive any declaration of interest by any Member or Officer regarding any item of business.

No declaration of interest was received.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the SACRE held on 28^th June, 2013 to be submitted for confirmation.

The minutes of the previous meeting of the SACRE held on 28 June, 2013 were presented and confirmed as correct.

·        Schools whose self-evaluation reports are outstanding issued with a reminder.

·        Religious Education Website (Copy attached)

·        GwE Support

·        Estyn report on Religious Education in Secondary Schools issued to schools on 5^th September (Copy attached)

·        Review of National Curriculum Subjects

•           The Education Officer reminded Members as per the discussion at the previous meeting that the Anglesey SACRE body had historically reserved the right to appoint a Chairperson from among the LEA’s representatives on the body and that the LEA had traditionally exercised its right to make the appointment. The Officer informed the SACRE that in the period since the previous meeting, Councillor Dylan Rees had been appointed to undertake that function and he introduced Councillor Rees to the SACRE as its new Chair.

Members of the SACRE unanimously endorsed the appointment.

•           With reference to the two schools whose RE self-evaluation reports remained outstanding at the previous meeting, the Education Officer said that despite several requests for the information, the reports of Ysgol Pentraeth and Ysgol y Fali had yet to be received. He suggested that a letter be sent to the Chairs of the Governing Body of the respective schools. Members of the SACRE were in concurrence with this suggestion given that the information was essential for the body to carry out its monitoring responsibilities and having taking into consideration the fact that previous requests for the reports had been made.

Action Arising: Education Officer to write to the respective Chairs of the Governing Bodies of Ysgol Pentraeth and Ysgol y Fali about the availability of their RE self-evaluation reports and why their provision is important to the fulfilment of the SACRE’s duties as a monitoring body.

•           The Education Officer confirmed that information regarding access to the RE News website had been provided to the SACRE’s Members and to other relevant personnel. Miss Bethan James, Systems Leader asked Members to share any information about local projects and good or innovative practices of which they might be aware so that these might be more widely disseminated.

•           The Education Officer confirmed that the arrangements agreed at the previous meeting whereby the SACRE would request school self-evaluation reports on a cyclical basis both in the primary and secondary sectors had been put into effect and that the self-evaluation report of Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern was the first secondary report received under the new system as included on the agenda.

•           In relation to the provision of support for the SACRE, the Education Officer informed Members that the LEA has held discussions with the GwE with the outcome that 3 days per term of the Systems Leader’s time will be made available to the SACRE. The support provided will take on the form of guidance, specialist input and reports to the SACRE but will not include undertaking visits to schools. The issue of support has been raised and taken forward at the North Wales level because of the statutory basis of the SACRE body. Miss Bethan James, Systems Leader said that she would be providing administrative support to the SACRE in the main although a request has been made that she continue in her representative role at meetings of the WASACRE. Due to the change in the nature of the support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To submit the draft of the Anglesey SACRE’s Annual Report for 2012/13.

The draft Annual Report of the Anglesey SACRE for 2012/13 was presented for consideration and approval.

Miss Bethan James, Systems Leader provided Members with background information to the preparation of the report along with a summary explanation of its contents which were based on the deliberations of the SACRE at its meetings held during 2012/13. The Officer proceeded to bring the following matters to the SACRE’s attention –

•           With reference to school’s self-evaluation reports, whether the SACRE was happy to support the practice of naming those schools which had failed to submit a self-evaluation report for the SACRE.

Members discussed the matter and they sought clarification of the timescales and the work involved in completing the self-evaluation. The Systems Leader said that schools are expected to have undertaken the preparatory planning work making completion of the self-evaluation proforma a less onerous task.

In light of the fact that requests are made to schools to present their self-evaluation reports to the SACRE’s attention for monitoring reasons and that an initial failure to do so is followed up by correspondence, the SACRE’s Members were agreed with the principle that schools who still fail to comply be named in the Annual Report.

It was agreed that schools who fail to present their self-evaluation reports be named in the Annual Report. It was also agreed that Ysgol y Tywyn and Ysgol Llanddona be given the opportunity to amend their self-evaluation reports to include in the case of the former, a judgement on the quality of the outcomes or provision in Religious Education and on the quality of the provision for collective worship and in the case of the latter, to include a judgement on the provision of Religious Education.

•           With reference to outcomes in Religious Education, whether the SACRE was happy with the practice of naming schools which are able to identify good features for the purpose of highlighting good practice to be drawn upon by other schools.

It was agreed that that those schools able to identify good features be named in the Annual Report.

•           With reference to the SACRE’s recommendation to the Anglesey LEA with regard to outcomes in RE, whether the SACRE was happy to retain the recommendation that RE Co-ordinators be invited to present their work to SACRE Members.

It was agreed that the said recommendation be retained within the Annual Report.

•           With reference to the section outlining the support provided by the Cynnal Advisory Services, the Systems Leader pointed out that consideration will have to be given to the contents of this section for the forthcoming year since the advisory branch of Cynnal was disbanded on 31 March, 2013.

•           With reference to the list of Welsh Government publications in the form of guidance documents for RE teachers,  the Systems Leader said that all but the People, Questions, and Beliefs: Religious Education in the Foundation Phase guidance had been formally considered by the SACRE. The Officer suggested that the document would be useful to primary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

·        Teachers’ Assessments KS3 (Summer 2013) and External Examination Results (Summer 2013)

·        Inspection reports in respect of Ysgol Cemaes; Ysgol Corn Hir, Ysgol Moelfre and Ysgol Llaingoch (Copy of the Education Officer’s report attached)

·        Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern self-evaluation

·        Arrangements for monitoring RE Standards and collective worship for the future (Paper attached)

•           A report on KS3 Teacher assessments in RE along with the results of Summer 2013 external examinations was presented for the SACRE’s attention. The report provided information on the standards reached, the comparative achievement of girls and boys and the number of candidates in the examinations.

The Systems Leader informed the SACRE that KS3 performance data for two secondary schools had not been received. It was agreed that the two schools in question – Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni and Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern be requested to provide the said data. The Officer highlighted the fact that the gap in performance between girls and boys in one school was less than in some of the others – Mrs Mefys Edwards briefly explained the teaching approach in Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones. The Systems Leader suggested that the SACRE might wish to consider receiving a presentation on RE GCSE lesson content and specifically methods used to improve boys’ participation and performance in RE as a subject area – perhaps a  presentation by boys regarding their attitude towards RE as a subject. She also provided the Members with an explanation of the Religious Studies short course.

It was agreed to accept the report and to note its contents.

Actions Arising:

•           Education Officer and Systems Leader in consultation with the Chair to arrange for the SACRE to receive a presentation at its next meeting around standards and performance and to determine the content of the presentation.

•           Education Officer on behalf of the SACRE to remind Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni and Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern to make available RE KS3 performance data.

•           The report of the Education Officer providing a summary of the relevant parts of Estyn reports in relation to Ysgol Cemaes, Ysgol Corn Hir, Ysgol Moelfre and Ysgol Llaingoch was presented for the SACRE’s consideration. Members noted the report.

•           The RE self-evaluation report of Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern was presented for the SACRE’s consideration.

The Systems Leader said that the report provided an useful overview of standards in RE at the school as well as a taste of the kind of activities, tasks and discussions arranged as part of the RE provision at different stages and as part of collective worship arrangements.

The SACRE noted the report and expressed its appreciation of the information provided.

Action Arising: Education Officer to write on behalf of the SACRE to the Head of RE at Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedeen to thank her/him for the report.

•           The results of a questionnaire completed by Members of the SACRE at the end of the forum’s previous meeting in June were presented. The questionnaire sought to gauge Members’ knowledge and understanding of RE and collective workshop as well as seeking to identify their views regarding recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of the SACRE as a monitoring body e.g. by arranging for Members to attend a collective worship session in a sample of schools and/or to visit a school to discuss the school’s self-evaluation of RE with the Re-Co-ordinator or  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To receive an update on the support provided.

It was agreed that this matter had been covered under matters arising on the minutes.

·        To submit the agenda and papers for the meeting of the WASACRE held in Cardiff on 10 October, 2013 along with an oral update of the deliberations from the meeting.

·        To submit the Treasurer’s report for 2012/13.

·        To submit a report on the activities of the Association for 2012/13.

•  The agenda of the meeting of the WASACRE held in Cardiff on 10th October, 2013 was presented along with the minutes of the Association’s 19th June meeting held in Caernarfon, Gwynedd. The documentation was noted.

•  The Treasurer’s report for 2012/13 was presented and noted.

•  A report on the WASACRE’s activities during 2012/13 was presented and noted.

To receive an update on correspondence received (please refer to Officer’s report under item 5)

The Education Officer referred to correspondence received and sent as set out in his report under item 4. The Officer drew attention to a request received and forwarded to him by the Secondary Education officer following an earlier meeting of the Gwynedd and Môn Local Safeguarding Board for a denominational representative to attend a meeting of the Board to be held at the Celtic Royal Hotel, Caernarfon on 28th January, 2014.

Mr Stephen Francis Roe expressed an interest in attending the meeting in his capacity as a Safeguarding Officer for the Wales Synod and was nominated to do so by the SACRE’s Members.

2:00 p.m. on Tuesday 18^th February, 2014.

It was noted that the next meeting of the SACRE was scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 18th February, 2014.