Agenda item

To consider a report from the Director of Children and Families that sets out the priorities for SACRE over the last year and the progress made on them.

The Board considered a report from the Director of Children and Families that sets out the priorities for SACRE over the last year and the progress made on them.

In attendance for this item were:

·  Councillor Helen Hayden, Executive Board Member for Children and Families

·  Dan Barton , Deputy Director – Learning

·  Katie North, School Improvement Adviser

·  Russell Trudgen, Chair of Leeds SACRE

The Executive Board Member for Children and Families introduced the report and noted the value that Religious Education (RE) adds to school curriculums and the challenges that can be faced teaching RE in schools. The commitment to and standard of RE provision in Leeds was also acknowledged.

Responding to member questions and comments the following topics were discussed:

·  The Chair of Leeds SACRE highlighted the importance of RE and the value it adds to the school curriculum. In addition, an ambition to support teachers who are not specialist RE teachers was set out. The work SACRE does with the wider community and faith groups was also noted.

·  Board members asked about teaching RE in non-exam classes a suggestion being that examination could become more common. By way of response, it was noted that fitting all subjects into the school curriculum can be problematic based on available time. However, it was recognised the value RE brings in terms of other subjects and disciplines that are covered by it such as philosophy, sociology, history and geography.

·  Members asked about the gender gap in terms of attainment with boys appearing to not engage as effectively as girls. In response the Board were informed that confidence in the classroom can be an issue as well as SACRE being able to offer more support linked to the asks that were included in the submitted report.

·  The board discussed the role that RE and SACRE can play in terms of ethics and ensuring that children and young people are taught this through the curriculum. This approach could be of particular value given the way society has become more polarised in recent years.

·  Members suggested that young people could be members of the SACRE Board. Currently there aren’t any, but SACRE does visit schools proactively to engage with young people. It was noted that more engagement could be done such as taking the SACRE meeting to schools and to have discussion with young people before the board meetings start. The Board felt that young people could be strong advocates for SACRE if this was developed further and through the Council’s voice and influence team it was thought that further support for this could be given.

·  The Chair of the Board sought and received permission (by unanimous vote) to adjust the recommendations in the report on page 89 of the agenda pack, to add in the following: ‘and to thank all who contributed to the report and updated the curriculum.’

Resolved – By unanimous vote Members noted the content and recommendations set out within the appended report and thanked all who contributed to the report and updated the curriculum.

(Moved by Cllr Cohen and Seconded by Cllr Edwards)