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There is no summary of this meeting yet. One is written once the council publishes the minutes. The agenda and papers are below.
Cllrs D Fouweather, P Drewett, S Cocks, F Hussain S Alom, R Penn, E Keen, N Baicher.
None recorded.
The forum wished to note its thanks to Charles Williams Church in Wales (CiW) Primary School for its welcome in April’s meeting and gratitude for the insight they received into the teaching of the curriculum. The forum also wished to note their thanks to the representative from Bassaleg for the update concerning the new GCSE specification for RVE. The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as a true and accurate record.
There were no matters arising recorded.
The item was presented by the representative from the EAS. The forum watched a video of the winner of the Youth SACRE logo competition explaining their design. The Chair credited the thought that went into the design. The representative from the EAS noted that each Youth SACRE meeting has an outcome for the pupils to consider and extended an invitation to any school in Newport which is not part of the Youth SACRE forum to take part. The Head of Education (HE)of Newport City Council confirmed that the work of the pupils could be displayed in the Civic Centre. The Chair queried how all Newport schools could ensure that this work is considered. The representative from the EAS highlighted that a key role of the SACRE forum was to have oversight in ensuring that RVE is taught well in schools. Part of this was about engaging with learners. The HE invited the EAS to address the Youth Council on the work of the Youth SACRE. The forum noted its desire to see the Youth SACRE forum be a strong voice for a plurality of faiths in line with the Council’s vision of Newport being an inclusive, fair city. The Chair emphasised the importance of engagement with Newport schools on behalf of the forum, to ensure that opportunities for genuine participation across the city are secured. The representative from the EAS also presented an update on professional learning for the new GCSE specification for Religion, Values and Ethics (RVE). Issues raised included preparing Key Stage 3 RVE pupils for Key Stage 4 learning and how professional learning can be developed. The Chair expressed their satisfaction with schools sharing resources in regard to delivering the new specification for RVE. The representative from Bassaleg School raised a concern on the lack of textbook resources from the Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC), with resources being online instead. Staff have commented that there is a lack of clarity concerning the non-examined assessment (NEA) aspect of the RVE qualification and how it is meant to be delivered. The representative from the EAS expressed hopes that teachers across Newport will embrace the NEA on account of the assurance that learners will not be solely reliant on examinations in how they are assessed. The representative from the EAS reminded the forum that support is available from the EAS to assist schools in teaching the new qualification for RVE. The Chair requested that this matter be a recurring agenda item for the forum to scrutinise. The Chair also enquired whether this matter would lead onto a broader conversation for primary schools to understand what pupils will be working towards at GCSE level. The EAS representative assured the Chair that the focus on skills at primary school level will help to ensure that students are well prepared to achieve their best in the GCSE qualification. The representative from Malpas CiW Primary School queried whether this model is consistent or loosely defined, noting that their school’s frameworks are enquiry based, framing learning through questions. The EAS representative confirmed that this is part of a wider conversation that is required between the EAS and primary and secondary schools but noted that the WJEC did not expect all schools to teach in the same way; as long as criteria were met, then marks would be given. The Chair expressed their hope to hear how this conversation is developed across Newport schools. The EAS representative also presented an update on the Teacher Voice Project. The response rate was low, but the project is in progress. The forum will receive information following the meeting to redistribute to schools. The Welsh Government are conducting a review of the project, considering how feedback received could be fed into annual reports sent to SACREs across Wales. A report conducted in Bangor has been conducted, but consideration was limited as a consequence of a small sample size and the report was not comprehensive enough in understanding how RVE is progressing across schools in Wales. The EAS representative assured the forum that the HWB, the digital learning resources section for schools, is free to all schools in Wales.
This item was presented by the representative from the EAS. The forum heard concerns raised at the Wales Association of Standing Advisory Councils for Religious Education (WASACRE) spring meeting including: • The ceasing of Cardiff University’s Theology course and the impact of this decision. • This impact this would have on future and newly qualified RVE teachers, especially on how they are trained in delivering RVE as a subject.
The representative from Democratic Services raised awareness of the Electoral Registration Office’s availability for voter engagement in Newport secondary schools ahead of the forthcoming May 2026 Senedd Cymru Elections. The ERO are willing to assist with School Council Elections as part of this work. The forum also raised concerns over attendance at meetings. The HE suggested that the forum’s meetings often coincide with half term holiday periods, thus impacting ability to attend meetings for teachers and elected councillors. This could be changed to two weeks following the end of half term periods in future. The Chair enquired whether there were any plans for school visits over the course of the next year. Malpas Primary School was suggested as a possible venue. The Chair gave their best wishes to the members of the forum ahead of the summer holidays. The meeting was closed at 10:18.
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