Agenda and draft minutes

As Valletta had dislocated her shoulder shortly before the meeting, Shaun had agreed to take the notes at short notice.

Dinah welcomed all present to the meeting. In particular, Pastor Nick Hughes was welcomed as a new member of Group A, representing the Free Churches and Qamar Ahmedas a member of Group D, temporarily representing the Executive Director of Children and Young People in the LA.

The minutes of the last meeting were Agreed as a correct record, subject to the following amendment:

·               Under Membership Issues, David Britton should read Gail Exon.

Matters Arising Not On the Full Agenda.

Item 2: Dinah Griffiths had tried to contact Turnham School. She will write a formal letter about the proposed change to the category.

Item 6: Thanks were expressed, particularly, to Denise and Kishan for their work on the SACRE constitution.

Item 7: Denise Chaplin had inquired as to who she should contact about the SACRE training development for new elected members. She stated that this third training session will have particular focus on local issues and would be held at the Civic Suite.

Action: Denise will confirm date, 22^nd January and time 6.30pm, when a room has been confirmed available for the training event.

Cllr Paschoud expressed that she would attend. Dinah encouraged members to attend training as she advised it would be a good refresher for all SACRE members.

Item 9: Dinah aims to meet with Imam Shakeel, after Christmas, about the event for schools, working with young people and the wider local community at the mosque. The purpose of the eventis to encourage engagement with various members of community and draft a plan on how we can all work more closely together in the future.

Denise stated that the secondary schools that she had met with recently are interested to know how the mosque deals with radicalisation; They are also concerned about the radicalisation of young people by extreme right wing groups such as the EDL  Those schools  would be interested in attending the event and how lessons learnt could be related to other issues. She further stated that some parents were worried and need the support of SACRE as a Multifaith body involved in RE. Gurbakhsh also stated that SACRE needs to be neutral. Schools have a role to play in ensuring that pupils of all faiths understand the issues involved. Shaun also stated that it was very important that the New OFSTED Framework reflects   faiths in general and is not one faith specific.

Action: Dinah Griffiths to talk to ImamShakeel about concerns expressed.

  Action: Working Party to be set up to plan event, members of SACRE requested to let Dinah know if interested in being a part of it.

Item 10: The Ramadan Advice to Schools 2015, was Agreed.

Action: Qamar and Denise will liaise on how to get the Ramadan Advice to Schools into Schools Bulletin for January 2015.

Order fine. No urgent business.

Shaun proposed an inclusion in the revised constitution as follows:

“Protect and support the South London MultiFaith and MultiCultural Resources Centre as a means of promoting effective Religious Education within the LA.”

“Roles and Functions: - Change “At the discretion of the Local Authority, the SACRE may“ to “The SACRE will”. This point to become (iii) and the later points to move down.

Appendix - Membership: - “Southwark Diocese” to read “The Diocese of Southwark.”

The committee Agreed to all additions to the constitution.

                Action: Denise is currently in conversation with Troy, a member of the Local Authority’s Legal Team, to check the validity of additions of the New Constitution.

Action: Denise to update as to whether the LA has adopted the New Constitution.

Membership letters

The process for contacting members whose attendance causes concern.

Draft letters where submitted to members and Agreed, along with process.

Resignations were received from:

Group D:  Lorna Trodd, due to school commitments. Lorna will be greatly missed, and was a very faithful supporter of SACRE. Members are very sad to lose her. Dinah Griffiths stated that she would be welcome back any time.

Group B:  Angie Arnell, due to her responsibilities as a carer and school pressures. Angie was one of the original members of Lewisham SACRE, and served as the Vice Chair of SACRE for a while. She has asked to be kept informed about Holocaust Memorial Day and Interfaith Walks.

SACRE members acknowledged and appreciated both their contributions to Lewisham SACRE over the years.

It was Agreed that Dinah would send Angie and Lorna Thank You cards from SACRE.

It was Agreed that the Nominating Bodies will be asked to nominate replacements.

Membership Record Sheet needs to show:

·         Gerald as being present at last meeting;

·         Rev John Ackland as giving apologies;

Symbols need to read:

·         A - “Denotes apologies received;”

·         0 - “Denotes no apologies received.”

The Record of Attendance to be displayed in future SACRE Annual Reports.

Oral update on progress since the last meeting.

Dinah had written to Jordana Malik to ask for an update on progress of the new home forthe MFMC. She reported that Jordana’s response indicated that there was not much, progress because of building issues. As they are still referring to MFMC as the “Library.” Dinah had advised Jordana that the centre is far more than a library and asked that Jordana correct this. Jordana had responded with apologies and agreed to use the term ‘Multifaith Centre’ in future. Jordana’s response stated that she entirely agreed and would keep it as Multifaith Centre in future The committee endorsed this point and thanked Dinah for her quick and important action. Dinah stated that she was keen and had askedJordana to attend the next SACRE meeting with a further update. Denise asked Qamar to help tofind out who the liaison contact person was for Renewal within the Council.

5.1 The MultiFaith Centre Steering Group to meet and discuss.

Gerald found it disappointing that no schools had borrowed Jewish resources temporarily housed at the synagogue. However, he is using the resources when schools visit the Synagogue and when he visits schools. Denise informed committee members that St Mary Magdalene’s School in Greenwich is using the resources that they are temporarily housing.

Action: Gerald and Joan will review ways to publicise the use of Jewish and Holocaust resources that are currently held in the synagogue, after Hanukah and Christmas.

To consider the document produced by the RE Council and the National

Association of teachers of RE  designed as a support tool to help

individuals interpret the DfE standards in relation to RE. To agree on their

distribution to schools

The Religious Education Council & National Association of Teachers of RE designed a support tool to help individuals interpret the DfE Teacher Standards in relation to RE. Religious Education Subject Leaders couldtalk through, section by section, to evaluate what an RE classroom should could and does look like.

Dinah enquired as to whether the tool had been used in SACRE training sessions. Denise responded that it hadn’t as there had been little time, but she may cover it in the next session. She stated that it would be useful because it identifies what good RE looks like in a classroom. Itwould form part of on-going SACRE development. Shaun stated that he had used it when training teachers, non-specialists plus RE Subject Leaders and he was impressed with the tool. Joan advised that colleagues should be careful of language “RE classroom”, as she believed it could be taken as just relevant for secondary schools. Denise maintained that it was an effective tool as it challenged and encouraged the user to probe different faiths. John added that it was about whole-school approach to faiths and no-faith and how they should be equally respected in schools. Problems usually occur much less, when RE is part of the whole school ethos. If the school is doing positive proactive things in community, fears based on ignorance are less likely to occur. Dinah said that the tool was very helpful and thought provoking. Rev John felt it would be helpful for any teacher in any subject when students raise issues of all beliefs no beliefs. Schools could be encouraged to use it to aid discussion related to RE and also in PSHE Staff Meetings. Shaun stated that it definitely needs to be used in INSET Staff meetings and when a school is talking about RE. John agreed that training plus staff meetings with LA (and SDBE for C of E Schools). Gerald stated that he liked the document considering the number of schools where there are no teachers trained for RE, it would be very useful for them.

Action: SACRE agenda item for future - to come back as bigger item for discussion.

It wasAgreed that the audit tool would be distributed to schools.

First information regarding results from summer 2014 public examinations.

Denise reported that she had yet to receive the definitive Results from summer 2014 public examinations. The Local Authority have not sent the data on Short Courses despite the fact that students had entered, because as it is not being measured by DfE,  no data has been sent to Las from DfE. Qamar Ahmed said we may need to go to schools for information. Denise responded that she had been trying to get the data since September 2014. Been to a few schools but some have proven hard to reach. Denise stated that it was really important, that the committee received reliable data this year. She would possibly  approach  the RE Council to see if someone there could chase someone up in the DfE. Short Course counts as local measure.  In answer to a question how can we get data. Denise responded that it would be very difficult. However, by the next SACRE meeting, she would try to have overall data. Dinah advised that the results were a measure of where RE stands in whole curriculum. In answer to another question, how much is it considered a valid subject area? Denise responded that a long course was more valid than the short courses.

The DfE is seeking views on revised subject content for GCSE and A level

religious studies for first teaching from 2016. This is the final consultation on

subject content.

The DfE is seeking views on the revised subject content for GCSE and A Level Religious Studies for teaching from 2016. This is the final consultation on subject content. It was explained that RE consultation is longer than other subjects because of the complexity of the debate about faith content. The British Humanist Association has queried the lack of reference to Humanism in the document. Shaun stated there had been concerns regarding the narrowness of the faith study proposed. He went on to state that the proposal is for Christianity and Catholic Christianity to be studied as two different world religions. If KS4 and KS5 become narrow, has implications for what is taught at primary level and KS3. KishanManocha will be submitting a response of behalf of Baha’I community. Joan stated that the study of two faiths feels like a backward step. John enquired as to who was responsible for such decisions. Denise advised that it was OFQUAL & DfE.

Holocaust Memorial Day?

Gerald and Joan stated that Holocaust Memorial Day was the direct responsibility of the schools. Schools are encouraged to select a day and produce their own Assembly; the hopeis that all schools will choose the same day at the same time. Representatives from the religious community plus Holocaust Memorial Day will make themselves available to attend and supportthem. Instead of the previous service in Synagogue & Theatre performance, this year’sProduction will be at Rivoli Ballroom. Transformed back to 1930’s people will be taken through the experience. Small groups of pupils will perform because very small stage. Theme for primary schools: - The Kindertransport. Leone Siegel DVD into schools. Rachel Levi – Holocaust Survivor from Auchstwitz, DVD for sec schools.

The main event will take place on Sunday 25^th. January 2015. Free tickets will be available from Derek Johnson. Hope schools will be involved. John G: - His schools haven’t received any information. Schools need to hear about such events early. How is this being publicised?

Gurbakhsh enquired as to who had suggested the ballroom rather than the theatre? He was advised that Cllr Pauline Morrison had proposed it. Gurbakhsh expressed his concern as the ballroom had less capacity than the theatre. He was worried about those who may want to attend not obtaining access. Joan assured Mr Garcha that everyone who had attended previously will be able to fit into the Rivoli Ballroom. However, further stated that it was meant to be a community event for the whole community, and we were trying to attract new people. Gerald stated that this Holocaust Memorial Day will be the 70^th. Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. 70 candles will be lit across the country. Lewisham’s bid to host one of the 70 specially-designed candles to mark the 70th anniversary, been successful. There will the lighting of one of the candles at the end, Rachel’s story, which will be part of the national event.

There will be training.

• the next Lewisham SACRE meeting (all meetings to take place from 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.)
• an Agreed Syllabus Conference (postponed from last year)
• Training for  new SACRE members

Tuesday 3^rd. February 2015 - Catford and Bromley Synagogue

Thursday 16^th. April 2015  - Childeric Primary School?

11.1 Agreed Syllabus Conference:

The conference couldn’t be considered as Fay, (Chair of ASC,) had sent her apologies for this meeting.  Dinah thanked the Lewisham Islamic Centre for their kind hospitality shown to SACRE in hosting the meeting and for the refreshments that they offered.

The meeting finished at 8:00.p.m.

SACRE members were then invited to observe Evening Prayers at the Mosque and then have a tour of the Islamic Centre.