Agenda item

Annual Report of the Anglesey SACRE for 2012/13

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

Minutes:

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 schools as a repository of ideas to promote good practice although it was not currently available via the WG website. Members of the SACRE consented to the circulation of a copy of the guidance document to the Island’s primary schools to be drawn upon for ideas and good practice.

 

It was agreed to accept the draft Annual Report of the Anglesey SACRE for 2012/13 subject to typographical amendments noted in the course of the discussion.

 

Actions Arising:

 

           Education Officer to contact Ysgol y Tywyn and Ysgol Gynradd Llanddona to offer them the opportunity to re-submit their RE self-evaluation reports to include a judgement on the quality of the provision of RE and collective worship as relevant.

           Education Officer in consultation with Systems Leader to arrange for primary schools to receive a copy of the People, Questions and Beliefs: RE and the Foundation Phase guidance document to be used as a reference for ideas and good practice.

           Committee Officer to request the SACRE’s Chair for 2012/13 to provide a foreword to the Annual Report.

Supporting documents: