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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED that the report be accepted and following translation of the report it be forwarded to Welsh Government and other relevant bodies by 31st December, 2024.
AGREED that the next meeting would be held during the Spring Term 2025. The School Improvement Officer to liaise with Democratic Services to identify a suitable date and time.
The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and the following apologies for absence were reported:- Mrs. C. Knowlson - NASUWT Ms. Kathy Riddick – Wales Humanists Luisa Munro-Morris – Corporate Director of Education
Decision as recorded
AGREED that the report be accepted and following translation of the report it be forwarded to Welsh Government and other relevant bodies by 31st December, 2024.
Consideration was given to the draft SACRE Annual Report 2023/2024. It was unanimously AGREED that the report be accepted and following translation of the report it be forwarded to Welsh Government and other relevant bodies by 31st December, 2024.
The Advisor provided an update on the following: Ø Upcoming Professional Learning Workshopsincluded a free Philosophy for Children Workshop commencing on 13th January, 2025. The workshop would comprise of 4 sessions and schools were encouraged to participate as it linked to the new RVE curriculum. Resources and ideas from the workshop would be shared among participating schools. Ø Resources were available to view on the humanities website. This was a team space for all teachers to access upcoming humanities planning days and meetings, details of which would also be advertised through the humanities newsletter, which was circulated to all schools. Action: Details of the upcoming Philosophy for Children Workshop and Humanities Newsletter to be forwarded to the School Improvement Officer for circulation to all schools. It was noted that SACRE Members were also welcome to attend the workshop sessions.
The Advisor provided an update on the following: Ø The WASACRE conference was held in the summer and there was the possibility of a further event being held at the end of the year which, schools in Blaenau Gwent may like to participate at in order to show and share their work. Action: Links from the key parts of the WASACRE conference to be circulated to Members. Action: Schools to be contacted for expressions of interest to volunteer to participate at the forthcoming event. Action: Information relating to schools’ sanctuary be shared with SACRE Members and schools. Ø The draft specification for the new RS GCSE was expected to be approved by 18th December by Qualification Wales – the draft specification was available on the website. Two upcoming walk throughs would be taking place on 16th and 18th December where teachers would receive initial information and guidance about the draft specification. In addition, a WJEC event was taking place on 14th February, 2025 for all schools relating to the specification. The current RS books would be mapped to the new specification, but there would be no new physical book. Instead, blended learning and online materials would be used and the BBC Bitesize materials would be updated in time. Ø Applications for the Farmington Scholarship was now open for applications and would close in January. These scholarships were available to teachers and headteachers and were fully funded. Action: Information relating to the scholarship be shared with schools.
The following topics were raised: Ø Interfaith Week - an event had been held in Cardiff relating to Interfaith Week. Action: Details of the interfaith week resource to be shared with schools. Ø Climate Collaboration – discussion took place regarding opportunities for collaborating with the local authority's climate group to address and discuss climate-related issues from a religious and ethical perspective. Action: Enquiries to be made about opportunities to collaborate with the local authority's climate group. Action: Partner School for Climate Projects - expressions of interest to be sought from schools to become a partner school for climate-related projects. Ø Diversity and Inclusion - information was shared on efforts to embrace diversity and inclusion in schools, including staff training, adapting the learning environment and celebrating different cultures. Action: Contact details for Mark Brighton from Cardiff University and the "Ask a Muslim" resource to be shared with schools. Ø Holocaust Memorial Day: mentioned was made regarding the Lessons from Auschwitz project which was open to applications. This offered secondary school students the opportunity to visit Auschwitz and create projects to share their experiences. Schools in Blaenau Gwent were encouraged to participate. Action: The possibility of organising a larger event for Holocaust Memorial Day in Blaenau Gwent, similar to Swansea's event be explored. Action: The link for the Lessons from Auschwitz programme to be circulated and secondary schools be encouraged to participate.
Decision as recorded
AGREED that the next meeting would be held during the Spring Term 2025. The School Improvement Officer to liaise with Democratic Services to identify a suitable date and time.
It was AGREED that the next meeting would be held during the Spring Term 2025. The School Improvement Officer to liaise with Democratic Services to identify a suitable date and time.
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