Wrthi'n llwytho
Does dim crynodeb o'r cyfarfod hwn eto. Caiff un ei ysgrifennu pan fydd y cyngor yn cyhoeddi'r cofnodion. Mae'r agenda a'r papurau isod.
T Hills, N Baicher, H Jones, E Keen, R Penn, A Lightbown.
None received.
The minutes of the previous meeting held 11th December 2024 were approved as a true and accurate record.
The forum attended an assembly ran by the pupils of Charles Williams Church in Wales Primary School on the topic of Godly Play. The forum expressed their thanks to the school for the engaging and well-constructed presentation.
The item was presented by the Head of Education from Newport City Council. The forum was briefed on the items in the agenda pack, which included an RVE teacher voice survey conducted by Cardiff Metropolitan University. The findings of the survey will be presented to the Wales Association of SACREs in due course. A video was also presented to the forum on professional learning conducted by the EAS within Newport schools. The video was created by Malpas Church in Wales (CiW) Primary School on their work as a SACRE youth council. The forum queried if there was a deadline for the completion of the survey and were advised that there is no set deadline. The Chair noted that it would be beneficial if the results of the survey would be deconstructed at a local level.
The item was presented by the Bassaleg School Representative. The forum received a briefing on the changes to the GCSE specification for Religious Studies (RS), which comes into force in September 2025. Major changes in the new specification were covered, which include: • Changes in assessment structure. • Structure of examined and non-examined material. • Resources available to teachers and pupils. The forum asked questions on the following issues: • The marking of examination papers by centres and the WJEC. • The production of non-examined assessment (NEA). • Obstructions to pupils who may not have access to the materials for revision at home. • Professional learning for teachers preparing to teach the qualification. • Structural development of the RS curriculum in Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4. • The equivalence of the qualification across the UK. The Bassaleg School representative addressed the forum’s questions. The NEA aspect of the qualification will be produced in controlled conditions, as a formal part of the programme. Students will be required to list the sources they have used, including declaring any use of Artificial Intelligence during the NEA. The specification also includes material to assist teachers, such as teacher guidance documents, and the ability for schools to edit the materials to suit the context of their learners. The specification has been cross-referenced by the WJEC with existing RS materials to ensure continuity in teaching content. These materials can be accessed in schools through the WJEC website. The representative from Bassaleg School reported that staff are open minded about the changes to the specification, but students’ results will be crucial in determining its success. Each Local Education Authority (LEA) has the option to host evenings for teachers to examine the specification in partnership with colleagues from other schools across the LEA. The Head of Education commented that inset days are being aligned across Wales, which raises the possibility for more professional learning for staff teaching RS. In relation to concerns over the transition in RS from KS3 to KS4, the representative from Bassaleg School noted that as the national curriculum for Wales from ages 3 to 16 has been introduced, this allows teachers flexibility in preparing students in the transition between these Key Stages. The specification provides clear guidance for teachers and can be tailored to meet each school's needs. Schools may need to adapt their methods to find the best way to teach the qualification. Students will be tested on their knowledge and the skills they have learned through study. The forum heard that the qualification was currently only available through WJEC for Welsh students and there is no oversight with regards to examination boards in England. The Chair thanked the representative for the helpful, engaging presentation.
Comments and recommendations The representative from Newport City Council Democratic Services requested that any comments from the forum on the draft WASACRE Code of Conduct be sent to democratic.services@newport.gov.uk prior to 3pm on the 30th of April 2025. Any comments on content for the SAC Annual Report guidelines should also be directed to Democratic Services prior to 3pm on the 4th of June 2025.
The forum suggested the possibility of the use of the Welsh song Calon Lân for use in RVE lessons and requested that the representatives from faith groups consult with their communities on the use of the song. The forum noted that Calon Lân already holds a prime significance in Welsh culture within schools. The forum received an invite to an inter-faith event at St Mary’s Hall, Stow Hill on the 15th of May. The Chair closed the meeting at 12:05, confirming that the next meeting will take place on the 15th of July.
Rhaid i gynghorwyr ddweud pan fydd ganddyn nhw gysylltiad personol â rhywbeth sy'n cael ei drafod, fel swydd, eiddo neu aelod o'r teulu. Mae buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu yn ddigon cryf i'r cynghorydd adael yr ystafell fel arfer a pheidio â chymryd rhan.
Caiff datganiadau eu darllen o'r cofnodion unwaith y byddan nhw wedi'u cyhoeddi.
Yn rhestru cynghorwyr presennol y cyngor yn unig. Nid yw aelodau cyfetholedig, swyddogion a chyn-gynghorwyr yn cael eu dangos.