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BOROUGH OF SOUTHEND-ON-SEA Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (S.A.C.R.E.) Annual Report 2003 Introduction Over the past year SACRE has continued to meet and to look at the provision for RE within the Borough. Importantly we have reviewed the RE syllabus used and have recommended to the Council that the new Essex Agreed Syllabus be adopted in schools here. The council have backed this recommendation. We usually meet in schools and have a report on the RE in those schools. We are highly impressed by what we see and hear. Nationally the provision of RE can be patchy and some schools are found to sit very lightly to their statutory responsibilities. The situation locally appears to be better, even though not perfect. But our impression is that RE is taught with passion, commitment and skill in most of our local schools. It is our conviction that in a diverse community such as we find in our borough good teaching of RE has much to offer in building up mutual understanding and respect. We hear much of citizenship as an important topic for schools, and it is difficult to believe it is possible to be a good citizen without having an informed understanding of the role religion plays in society and the world, and in the lives of a significant proportion of individuals. I would like to thank all those members who have served on SACRE in the past year, and hope that the next 12 months will also be informative and beneficial to members and to schools. Rev. Robin Eastoe Chair of Southend SACRE SACRE Annual Report 2002 (GS) Page 1 Contents: 1. Religious Education 1.1 Standards in RE SACRE has continued to monitor standards and quality in RE and the quality of provision for collective worship and for pupils’ spiritual development from information in the most recent Ofsted reports for primary, secondary and special schools. In addition, examination results at GCSE and A/S and A level are monitored as part of the Borough’s overall monitoring and evaluation of standards. 1.2. Agreed Syllabus Review SACRE has recommended to Southend Borough Council that the revised Essex Agreed Syllabus is adopted for use in Southend schools from September 2004. Training will be provided for schools to support implementation of the new syllabus. 1.3 Teacher training Specialist advice and support is available for schools through consultants employed by the LEA. SACRE has identified the following areas for training during 2004: The implementation of the revised Essex Agreed Syllabus Developing pedagogy for RE in Key Stage 3 Training for non-specialist teachers SACRE has discussed the implications of the pedagogy which has been introduced to schools through the National Key Stage 3 Strategy for the teaching of RE. RE teachers have been involved in the Borough’s training on developing teaching and learning in the Foundation Subjects. Other issues discussed by SACRE include the proposed National Framework for RE, effective provision for Gifted and Talented pupils in RE and the introduction of ‘Thinking Skills’ through RE. 1.4 Complaints concerning RE No formal complaints were made about religious education under the local statutory complaints procedure during 2002-2003. 2. Collective worship 2.1 Monitoring Information from Ofsted reports provides further information for members about the standard and quality of provision for collective worship and its contribution to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. SACRE Annual Report 2002 (GS) Page 2 2.2 Training There has been no training on collective worship to date. 2.3 Determinations There were no applications for determinations (to alter the character of collective worship for all or some pupils in a particular school) during 2002-2003. 2.4 Complaints concerning collective worship No formal complaints were made about collective worship under the local statutory complaints procedure during 2002-2003. 3. Links with other agencies 3.1 National Southend SACRE is a member of the National Association of SACREs (NASACRE). Members attend conferences and other events and report to full SACRE meetings. 3.2 Local During the year all SACRE meetings have been held in local schools. Prior to each meeting a presentation on the work of the school in the areas of RE and collective worship has been given by the Headteacher or Head of RE. At the March meeting, held at St. Bernard’s Roman Catholic High School, the Headteacher gave a presentation which focused on the history and development of the school with particular reference to the teaching of RE in the context of the school’s ethos. In June the Headteacher of St. Mary’s Church of England (Aided) Primary School presented a portrait of a Church of England Aided School. The November meeting was held at Cecil Jones Secondary School where the Head of RE and students from Key Stages 3 and 4 explained that RE has a high status in the school. It is viewed as an academic subject which challenges students to think at a high level but is also relevant and enjoyable. The students themselves gave their own perspectives on RE of which these are two examples: “I enjoy RE because you learn things about other people’s way of life and that not everyone’s the same. The teachers aren’t afraid to answer your questions.” (Key Stage 3 student) “Religious Studies opens up your mind about other people’s views, cultures and ways of life; it helps you understand about moral issues, giving you knowledge when having to make informed decisions. RE gives you a chance to develop and improve your understanding, debating and questioning skills. RE has obviously played a large role in my education as I am now looking for a degree course in Religious Studies.” (Key Stage 4 student) SACRE members have found that the opportunity to visit schools in the Southend area and hear first hand, from Headteachers, teachers and students, about their work in RE and collective worship, continues to enhance their understanding of the context in which SACRE Annual Report 2002 (GS) Page 3 they are working. It has been agreed to continue with this successful format for SACRE meetings during 2004. 4. Other issues 4.1 SACRE Website A SACRE mini-website has been set up in the Education and Life-long Learning Section of the Council’s website. Information about the work of SACRE and items relating to RE and collective worship are displayed. Schools are encouraged to submit examples of their work in RE. An additional portal facility is planned to enable teachers and pupils to access assistance in relation to RE. 4.2 Budget The LEA has delegated a reasonable sum of money to SACRE to enable the group to function independently and effectively. The funds are allocated carefully. Expenditure includes payments made to employ a consultant, national association affiliation fees, incidental expenses e.g. travel, venue and reducing the cost of courses for teachers. The budget has been increased this year to enable copies of the new Agreed Syllabus and CD Rom to be provided for all schools and to cover training costs for RE teachers in the Borough. SACRE Annual Report 2002 (GS) Page 4 Appendices Appendix A Constitution, Terms of Reference and Membership of Southend SACRE/. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council Education & Library Services Constitution of the Southend SACRE Role and Functions i. To advise the LEA upon matters connected with religious worship in its schools. ii. To advise the Authority upon he religious education to be given in its schools in accordance with an agreed syllabus. In particular it can offer advice on methods of teaching, the choice of materials and the provision of training for teachers. iii. To determine and review the cases in which the requirement for Christian collective worship is not to apply. iv. To decide whether the Authority’s agreed syllabus should be reviewed (the Authority Committee of the SACRE cannot ask for such a revision). v. To write an annual report on its work which will: a. specify any matters in respect of which the SACRE has given advice to the Authority; b. broadly describe the nature of the advice given; c. where any such matter was not referred to the SACRE by the Authority, give the SACRE’s reasons for offering advice on that matter. Copies of the report must be sent to schools, the Schools Curriculum Assessment Authority and the local teacher training institutions. SACRE Annual Report 2002 (GS) Page 5 vi. At the discretion of the Authority the SACRE may a. monitor RE provision to inform their advice and reporting; b. be involved in the Complaints Procedure; c. arbitrate, as necessary, whether acts of worship provided for withdrawal groups meet the requirement of Section 351 of the Education Act 1996. For i. and ii. above the Authority may refer matters to the SACRE or the SACRE may decide its own areas of work. Officers i The Chief Executive and Town Clerk of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council shall be the Clerk to the SACRE. ii. The Director of Education & Library Services of the Authority shall attend and participate in discussions of the SACRE as professional adviser. SACRE Annual Report 2002 (GS) Page 6 Membership In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1996 (Section 390); i. the SACRE is to comprise four groups representing respectively: a. such Christian and other religious denominations as, in the opinion of the Authority, will appropriately reflect the principle religious traditions in the area; b. the Church of England; c. such associations representing teachers as, in the opinion of the Authority, ought to be represented, having regard to the circumstances of the area; d.

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