Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence received from Janine Brill. 

Nominations for the Chair were sought from the Committee.

RESOLVED that:

Councillor Ernie Galsworthy be appointed as Chair.

Councillor Galsworthy then took the Chair.    

Nominations were sought for Vice Chair from the Committee.

 RESOLVED that:

Julie Symes be re-elected as Vice Chair. 

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 21^st February 2012 were submitted and approved. 

Carys Pritchard referred to Minute Number 778 with regard to Alun Jones attending future SACRE meetings.  She advised that Mr Jones has now left his post and Lucy Draper, teacher in charge of RE, at Penydre School will now be attending future SACRE meetings.

Karen Vokes circulated notes of the 12^th June 2012 meeting which was not quorate. 

Carys Pritchard circulated a presentation on the roles and responsibilities of a SACRE, and discussed the following in detail:

• The Composition of SACRE
• The responsibilities of the Local Authority in respect of SACRE.
• The relationship between SACRE and the Local Authority about RE and Collective Worship
• Review of the agreed syllabus for RE
• Determination requests to be exempt from “broadly Christian Worship”
• Consideration of complaints about the provision and delivery of religious education and collective worship.
• Publication of Annual Reports. 

Carys Pritchard referred to the request made in September 2011 from the British Humanist Association for a Humanist representative to be appointed to Merthyr SACRE.  It was explained that guidance has been sought from WASACRE and Welsh Government on this issue.  Both Welsh Government and WASACRE have advised that a representative of a Humanist organisation cannot be part of the religious representatives on SACRE but can however be admitted as co-opted if members are in agreement. 

Question were raised by the Committee.

RESOLVED that

SACRE would reply to the British Humanist Association noting that they would be willing to consider a request for co-option from a member of a Local Humanist group.

Further consideration will be given to this matter if a request is received.

Karen Vokes to send letters to religious denominations, Unions and Schools in relation to available vacancies within SACRE. 

Carys Pritchard outlined the activities of the Merthyr Tydfil SACRE during the academic year 2011/12 as detailed in the Annual Report. 

RESOLVED that:

The Annual Report be agreed.

• 2011-12 (see SACRE Annual Report).
• 2012-2015

Carys Pritchard led Committee in detail through the aims within the SACRE development plan. 

RESOLVED that:

Committee notes the contents of the SACRE development plan. 

• Inspection issues:   update on schools
• School self evaluation template
• Estyn thematic review

Inspection Issues: Update on School   

Carys Pritchard referred to the inspection carried out at Edwardsville Primary School.

RESOLVED that any progress would be brought back to a future meeting.

School Self Evaluation Template

RESOLVED that

Discussions to take place separately with Lorraine Buck on how to move this forward.

This item be discussed at the next meeting.

Estyn thematic review 

RESOLVED that

This item be discussed at the next meeting. 

• Outcomes
• Chief Moderator’s Report 2012

A brief overview was given with regard to the KS3 Securing Teacher Assessment Outcomes and Chief Moderator’s Report. 

These were noted and concerns were expressed by the Committee on how schools can be supported to move forward following these assessments. 

RESOLVED that

This item be agendered for a future meeting.

The Committee look at examples of good practice from other schools. 

• Feedback from AGM at Llandudno Junction June 26^th 2012
• SACRE’s and the Local Community
• Representation at next meeting on November 23^rd at Merthyr Tydfil
• WASACRE meeting Autumn 2012

AGM Meeting on the 26^th June 2012 

Carys Pritchard led the Committee through the main discussion of the AGM at Llandudno Junction on the 26^th June 2012.

SACRE’s and the Local Community Report

The contents of the SACRE’s and the Local Community Report were noted by the Committee.   

In relation to 4.2 of the report (Christian denominations and other religions), it was agreed that the Committee would seek guidance from Father Matthew especially in relation to developing further links with faith groups. 

Representation at the 23^rd November 2012 Meeting at Merthyr Tydfil

Carys Pritchard advised that all members are invited to the WASACRE meeting of the 23^rd November at Merthyr.

Carys Pritchard referred to the Holocaust Memorial Day for 2013 and advised that the theme will be ‘Communities Together:  Build a Bridge’.

Agreed that Karen Vokes send out letters to all schools in the County Borough advising them of the Holocaust Memorial Day and the website for free educational resources. 

The date of the next meeting is Tuesday, 5^th February 2013 at 3.30 pm at Afon Taf High School.

A further meeting has been confirmed for Tuesday, 11^th June 2013 venue to be confirmed at the February meeting

There was no correspondence.  

No other business was discussed.