Agenda item

Minutes

  To submit for confirmation, the draft minutes of the previous meeting of the SACRE held on 15 October 2019.

 

  To discuss any matters arising from the minutes.

Minutes:

The minutes of the previous meeting of the SACRE held on 15 October 2019 were presented and confirmed as correct.

 

Matters arising from the minutes:-

 

  The Chair confirmed that Councillor Aled Morris Jones has been appointed  as a member of the SACRE. 

  It was confirmed that Rev Jim Clarke is liaising with the Presbyterian Church for the Church to nominate a representative to join the SACRE.

  The Chair reported that the Methodist Church nominated Rev Sue Altree for the role of a SACRE representative, and the SACRE accepted the nomination. 

  The Chair, Councillors Gwilym O Jones and Alun Mummery confirmed that they have visited local schools to observe Collective Worship.

 

Councillor Gwilym O Jones gave an informative account of his visit to Ysgol Kingsland, Holyhead where he observed the morning service at the school.  He stated that the theme of the Collective Worship session was friendship, with emphasis on caring.  He reported that the service was excellent, and raised awareness of values, meaning and purpose, and gave the pupils the opportunity to reflect on events that affect the school and the local community. 

 

Councillor Alun Mummery reported that he attended a Collective Worship session at Ysgol Llanfairpwll, which had themes of house on the hill, and house on the sand.  He stated that his visit was most enjoyable, seeing the pupils responding well at the school, and demonstrating a sound background in RE. 

 

The Chair reported that he attended a Collective Worship session in Ysgol y Talwrn, which was excellent.  The pupils celebrated the Hindu festival Diwali, and read Bible stories.

 

The Chair encouraged members of the SACRE to attend Collective Worship sessions in schools.  Councillor Alun Roberts confirmed that he has arranged to observe a Collective Worship session at Ysgol Santes Dwynwen, Newborough.

 

  It was noted that the issue of disparity between examination papers and the volume of work in the RE Agreed Syllabus compared to other subjects was raised by the RE Advisor and other SACREs in the WASACRE meeting in Aberaeron.  It was reported that WJEC still refuse to acknowledge the issue.  With regard to a lack of teaching resources in Welsh, emails were shared with teachers to distribute resources and ideas.

 

The SACRE’s teacher representatives reported that pupil numbers have decreased significantly in RE at GCSE level due to the heavy workload.  It was reported that in one school, the uptake on pupils studying GCSE has decreased from between 50 and 60 pupils in previous years to 18 this year.  It was highlighted that pupils discuss the subject together, and relay the message that the RE Agreed Syllabus is too onerous compared to other subjects. 

 

Members of the SACRE expressed concern regarding the downward trend in pupils studying RE.  It was noted that the SACRE had raised concerns with Welsh Government two years ago regarding the volume of work in RE.  To date, there has been no response from WJEC.

 

RESOLVED to request that Mr Rheinallt Thomas raises the SACRE’s concerns again in the next WASACRE meeting regarding the RE GCSE Agreed Syllabus, as previous attempts have been inconclusive.

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