Issue - meetings

An update from Denise Chaplin; RE Advisor to SACRE

Denise Chaplain informed members that she had had a meeting with Janet Karklins (Deputy Director School Standards). A budget had been allocated to SACRE of approximately £19,000 which could be used for the agreed syllabus review.

The Deputy Director had suggested that Haringey could look at syllabus reviews that had already been completed, starting with Key Stages 1 and 2.

It was suggested that the funds could be used to buy copies of the syllabi of other authorities and rights to edit them to address Haringey’s needs and requirements.  Hackney and Enfield were authorities that had worked on the agreed syllabus review already. Haringey could contact them.

It was requested by the SHA representative that, at the next meeting, figures be provided for the religious affiliation of children in Haringey schools. This would be helpful in working on the agreed syllabus, as it would be more clear what the backgrounds of the children the material was aimed at would be.

Concern was expressed that the religious affiliation figures would reflect data on religious affiliation provided by parents. This would cause problems with regard to children who had parents of different religions or parents who had not provided data or who did not have a religion.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the syllabi from other authorities be acquired.

2.      That figures on religious affiliation be provided at the next meeting.