To present the RE self-evaluation reports of the following schools:

·      Ysgol Bryngwran,

·      Ysgol y Fali,

·      Ysgol Rhosybol and

·      Ysgol Llanfechell.

(Welsh versions attached)

The Religious Education self-evaluation reports prepared by Ysgol Bryngwran, Ysgol y Fali, Ysgol Rhosybol and Ysgol Llanfechell were presented for the SACRE’s consideration.

The GwE Challenge Advisor referred to the report by Ysgol Rhosybol which was a first draft submitted in error. She had asked the Head Teacher to submit the second draft to the SACRE for its next meeting and consequently she suggested that the present report be disregarded.

The GwE Challenge Adviser advised the SACRE on what it should be alert to in assessing the quality of self-evaluations. She stated that the first section with regard to how good the outcomes are needs to evidence what children can do in Religious Education e.g. references to the majority of pupils being able to compare religious practices outstandingly well, well, adequately, or unsatisfactorily.  She further stated that the SACRE should look at the skills children have; how many children can carry out those skills, and the quality of these skills. It can be a tendency in self-evaluation reports for schools to confuse the provision made i.e. what the teachers prepare and the experiences the children have with the standards evidenced by the children’s school books.

The second part of the self-evaluation refers to provision and ideally schools will provide information on the nature of lessons and the kind of work undertaken in Religious Education lessons e.g. what Religious Education stories children study, are guest speakers invited to schools etc. The Adviser said that there is room to further improve self-evaluation reports particularly in order to make the qualitative aspects more robust. She suggested that for the SACRE’s Spring meeting, the Primary Education Officer propose that she be available to schools for a period in the morning, in the afternoon and after school so that anyone wishing to do so could seek her advice. She advised the SACRE that in scrutinising the reports it should seek out those terms that provide a qualitative opinion e.g. good, adequate, improving, strong etc.

Mr Christopher Thomas questioned whether there is available an exemplar of the self-evaluation document for all schools.

The GwE Challenge Adviser confirmed that there is but that in adhering too closely to that particular format the self-evaluation reports of some schools can appear very similar, hence her offer of a workshop to address any issues or concerns  with regard to preparing RE self-evaluation.

The SACRE sought clarification of the number of schools which had not provided an RE self-evaluation. The Primary Education Officer stated that there were several which had not done so. The Chair suggested that in highlighting that the GwE Challenge Adviser is available to provide advice, attention be drawn to the need for schools to provide the SACRE with their RE self-evaluations to enable it to carry out its monitoring role.

It was agreed to note the RE self-evaluation reports presented.

Action:

The Primary Education Officer in conjunction with the GwE Challenge Adviser to arrange a workshop for schools to address any concerns with regard to RE Self-Evaluation and to highlight the need for schools to provide their self-evaluation reports to the SACRE.