Issue - meetings

Item for information and discussion – Jenny Stonhold; Chair of SACRE and Denise Chaplin; RE Advisor to SACRE

Jenny Stonhold ,Chair, spoke about the DfES supporting a national strategy for religious Education. This will support the non-statutory national RE framework. A NASACRE representative (Denise Chaplin) is now on the RE council and they are working with the DfES on a development plan for the national strategy.

Denise Chaplin, the Advisor to SACRE, presented information to members about the HMI subject inspection for RE.

They were focussing on boys and RE since, as the figures indicated, boys were performing worse than girls in RE exams. The figures available were for GCSE and A-level results, there was not so much information about attainment at Key Stage 2 or Key Stage 3.

The HMI tended to inspect at least one London borough as part of their work in a subject inspection. Ms Chaplin informed members that she was aware that they had investigated Southwark.

Members were informed that Greenwich and Southwark had worked together on a new syllabus. It included an 8-level scale for attainment. It was suggested that Haringey might wish to look at co-operation with other boroughs when drawing up a syllabus.

There was discussion among members about whether to include a self-evaluation toolkit for schools for RE. Concern was expressed by schools reps about this, feeling it would add to workload.

There was discussion around continuous professional development for RE teachers. There was a possibility that higher education providers would offer 10 day courses for subject leaders as part of their professional development.

RESOLVED:

That copies of NASACRE newsletter be obtained for Haringey SACRE members.