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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of Conwy SACRE held on 26 October 2022 be approved as a correct record.
RESOLVED: That an invitation be extended to the Pupil Referral Unit teacher, who had expressed an interest in becoming a Co-opted Member of Conwy SACRE.
RESOLVED: That the presentation on the Current Training Provision for Religion, Values and Ethics in The New Curriculum by the Local Authority be noted.
RESOLVED: That the SACRE school questionnaire does not have an end date for completion and that reminders be issued via newsletters and the Head Teacher Forum.
RESOLVED: That the information in respect of the Teacher's Network be noted.
RESOLVED: 28. That School Governor briefings in respect of Religion, Values and Ethics be included within the Strategic Management Plan.
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Wales Association of Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education held on 16 November, 2022 be noted.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Sharon Doleman, Tania ap Sion (Co-opted Member) and Suzy Sturley (Welsh Humanists).
None.
None.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of Conwy SACRE held on 26 October 2022 be approved as a correct record.
The minutes of the meeting of Conwy SACRE held on 26 October 2022 were submitted for approval. RESOLVED- That the minutes of the meeting of Conwy SACRE held on 26 October 2022 be approved as a correct record.
Qualifications Wales Religious Studies Have Your Say consultation response. The Chair advised that a response had been provided to the consultation on behalf of Conwy SACRE which has been circulated to SACRE Members. Concern had been raised that Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) assessments were 70% exam based whereas other humanities subjects were only 50% including other elements, such as oral examinations. This imbalance could have an unfair effect on student choice. Conwy SACRE were the first to promote the Agored Cymru Religious Education (RE) qualification, which would provide an opportunity for those pupils who were less academic and which had the potential for GCSE equivalence. The qualification was publicised within a mailing to schools and Headteachers who had commented that it addressed the gap in suitable current provision. Concern was also raised in respect of a lack of training for School Governors in respect of RVE. The RE Consultant would enquire as to whether Welsh Government (WG) training modules included a module specifically for School Governors. Conwy SACRE Member training. Proposed dates for the training would be circulated and agreed with Conwy SACRE Members. Welsh Government (WG) Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) training modules. The RE Consultant advised that a link would be provided to Conwy SACRE Members once the WG training modules had been published. Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC) plans for developing RVE specialists. The Head of Education Services advised that, due to the many demands on schools, CCBC did not currently have the resources or capacity to develop RVE specialists. However, CCBC had committed to providing RVE training to teachers. Existing processes for monitoring time allocation of RVE. The RE Consultant advised that monitoring processes in respect of RVE would be required to take into account the Agreed Syllabus.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That an invitation be extended to the Pupil Referral Unit teacher, who had expressed an interest in becoming a Co-opted Member of Conwy SACRE.
Census information An update would be provided by Co-opted Member Tania ap Sion at the next meeting of Conwy SACRE. Parameters for membership The Chair advised that Conwy SACRE Members (faith or philosophical convictions) were required to live or work in the County. Humanist representation The Committee Services Officer advised that the current Humanist representative was unable to attend meetings during the working day and that an alternative representative was being sought. Special School Representation The Chair advised that he had not made enquiries regarding a special school representative as the Head Teacher of Ysgol Y Gogarth had recently passed away. Condolences were extended to the Head Teacher’s family and colleagues. The RE Consultant advised that a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) teacher had expressed an interest in becoming a member of Conwy SACRE. RESOLVED: That an invitation be extended to the Pupil Referral Unit teacher, who had expressed an interest in becoming a Co-opted Member of Conwy SACRE.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the presentation on the Current Training Provision for Religion, Values and Ethics in The New Curriculum by the Local Authority be noted.
The RE Consultant provided Conwy SACRE Members with a presentation on the current training provision for Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE) in The New Curriculum by the Local Authority. The presentation had been presented to a cross-section of Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC) teachers on 1 December, 2022. Reference was made to the following: • The curriculum for Wales and the four purposes were the shared visions and aspirations for every child. • Accessing Humanities guidance within the Hwb portal. • Mandatory aspects of RVE within curriculum guidance. • The main aspects of RVE to be considered. • RVE guidance, to include the agreed syllabus. • RVE aims according to RE policies. • Statements of what matters. • RVE disciplines (religious studies, philosophy, theology, sociology, psychology and anthropology). • RVE concepts. • Supporting guidance and overview table. • RVE learning journey examples. • Spiritual development frameworks. • The GwE support centre for humanities / RVE. Thanks were extended to the RE Consultant for the informative and professional presentation. The following was discussed: • Positive feedback had been received from teachers who attended the training session and it had been a good opportunity for RVE teachers to meet and collaborate. - A recording of the presentation would be made available. • It was queried as to whether teachers were aware that they must consider the Agreed Syllabus in relation to RVE. - In response, the RE Consultant advised that all schools other than church schools had been aware. • The presentation highlighted the complexities in respect of planning for RVE and ensuring that all aspects were covered. • It was suggested that the presentation be shared with teachers as part of teacher training days. - The RE Consultant would discuss this further with the Education Improvement Team. • It was queried whether spiritual development was considered by ESTYN during school inspections. - In response, the RE Consultant advised that ESTYN had previously reported on the following aspects; Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC). However, the elements were now looked at separately. • It was queried as to whether RE would be integrated into RVE. - Secondary schools continued to teach RE using the previous Agreed Syllabus, however, this would be phased out on a year by year basis. - The current Agreed Syllabus related to RVE and applied to pupils up to and including year 6 as well as year 7 in secondary schools that had implemented the new curriculum. - From the 2023/2024 academic year the Agreed Syllabus would apply to all pupils up to and including year 8. RESOLVED: That the presentation on the Current Training Provision for Religion, Values and Ethics in The New Curriculum by the Local Authority be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the SACRE school questionnaire does not have an end date for completion and that reminders be issued via newsletters and the Head Teacher Forum.
A series of letters had been sent from the Chair on behalf of Conwy SACRE to Head Teachers, Teachers responsible for RVE delivery and Governors. The letters had emphasised individual school responsibility for the delivery of RVE, SACRE’s role and its recently adopted Strategic Management Plan. Reference was also made to the development of a Teacher Network in delivering the RVE curriculum and a questionnaire to schools relating to their RVE provision. The questionnaire aimed to identify areas where schools may need further support. The letters had encouraged secondary schools to consider the newly developed AGORED qualification. The following was discussed: • It was queried as to whether schools could be mandated to provide a response to the questionnaire. - In response, the Head of Education Services advised that schools were under increasing pressure and that it would not be appropriate to mandate a response. - It was suggested that schools be reminded to complete the questionnaire via newsletters and the Head Teacher Forum. - Schools were aware of the questionnaire, however, other matters were being prioritised. - It was suggested that no end date be allocated to the questionnaire in order to maximise the number of responses. RESOLVED: That the SACRE school questionnaire does not have an end date for completion and that reminders be issued via newsletters and the Head Teacher Forum.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the information in respect of the Teacher's Network be noted.
The RE Consultant provided an update on the development of a Teacher’s Network. The following points were highlighted: • A representative from each cluster had been put forward for the Teacher Network. • Teacher Network members would devise their own terms of reference and elect a Chair. • The Network would provide feedback to Conwy SACRE. • The Education Improvement Team had provided invaluable support in respect of liaising with clusters and identifying representatives for the Network. RESOLVED: That the information in respect of the Teacher's Network be noted.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: 28. That School Governor briefings in respect of Religion, Values and Ethics be included within the Strategic Management Plan.
27. Members were presented with an updated version of the Conwy SACRE Strategic Management Plan. It was suggested that information sessions be provided to all School Governors in respect of the implementation of Religion, Values and Ethics. RESOLVED: 28. That School Governor briefings in respect of Religion, Values and Ethics be included within the Strategic Management Plan.
Decision as recorded
RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Wales Association of Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education held on 16 November, 2022 be noted.
The minutes of the Wales Association of Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education (WASACRE) held on 16 November, 2022 were submitted. The Chair highlighted that an excellent case study presentation had been received at WASACRE which indicated that with professionally qualified teachers the new RVE curriculum could be delivered in an exciting way. It was important that Teachers carefully selected appropriate materials that opened students’ minds rather than providing them with closed views. There had been considerable discussion about how standards would be monitored and the provision of collective worship and both issues had been added to the agenda for WASACRE’s next meeting with the Welsh Government. Positive feedback had been received in respect of Conwy SACRE’s approach to their Annual Report, Strategic Management Plan and promotion of the AGORED Religious Education qualification. RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Wales Association of Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education held on 16 November, 2022 be noted.
The next meeting of Conwy SACRE had been arranged for 9 June 2023. A further meeting would be arranged during the autumn term, 2023. Thanks were extended to Chair of Conwy SACRE and the RE Consultant for their dedication in providing a clear direction to the work of Conwy SACRE over the last two years.
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