Agenda and minutes

Apologies for Absence had been received from Councillor Carol Melvin, Amir Ahmed, Graham Marriner and Hilary Stone.

The minutes of the meeting held on 16 June 2010 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Laura McNamee, the RE Co-ordinator at Grange Park Junior School spoke about the 2010/2011 calendar produced by the Yeading Junior Cluster. She explained that the calendar had incorporated work from all of the schools in this extended schools cluster. The meeting noted that there was a desire to work on similar calendars in the future, depending on funding.

The calendar for 2010/2011, which was suitable for use as a religious calendar had been produced and distributed to each family in each of the schools in the cluster. 

It was suggested that a calendar should be sent to the Council Leader and the 7 Cabinet Members to highlight some of the good work that was being done to promote RE in schools.

Those present were advised that there were a few calendars still remaining and copies would be sent on request on a first-come-first served basis. Requests should be sent to Laura McNamee at Grange Park Junior School or by emailing lmcnamee@hillingdongrid.org.

The Chairman thanked staff in Grange Park Junior School for their tremendous work in promoting RE in schools.

Kevin Guest, Headteacher at Grange Park Junior School conducted a brief training session for those present on how to access and use FRONTER. This useful virtual learning web tool had been rolled out in all schools in Hillingdon bar one.  In introducing the system, He explained that using personal logins, the ‘FRONTER’ could be accessed by pupils, teachers as well as parents. It was noted that the system also enabled teachers to communicate with pupils as well as parents.

SACRE members were advised that they would be given a ‘read only’ access to FRONTER, where they could view the RE room and see the work teachers were doing in schools. Instructions would be circulated separately.  

Members who are teachers would need to apply for permission to enter the room as teachers to give them access to add and edit materials (Contact Duncan Struthers by email at dhstruther@aol.com).

Eric Blaire sought ideas for celebrating RE in Hillingdon in March 2011, the month in which RE would be celebrated nationally. Members were invited to consider ideas and activities relating to RE within Hillingdon. He advised that the month should be used as an opportunity for swapping ideas and inviting different faith communities in schools.

It was noted that ideas could be sought from the REsilence Website at www.RE-silience.org.uk, where suggestions posted from around the country could be viewed. Attention was drawn to various competitions with closing dates in January 2011 that schools could enter.

the suggestions listed below were made in addition to the those circulated:

·        Youth cross-phase SACRE (Currently being sponsored by Yeading School)

·        On-going Youth SACRE conference at KS4 (Could mirror the adult SACRE being run in Harrow and Surrey). Also considered for Years 3 & 4 and years 5 & 6 mix

·        Internal conference with themes, and presented back to pupils – this may be encouraging to students, as they would be aware that they would be getting feedback

·        Children could invite their teachers into their communities

It was agreed that a special planning meeting would be arranged by in February 2011. Those who were interested in attending the planning meeting were asked to contact Nadia Williams (Clerk to SACRE) by email at nwilliams@hillingdon.gov.uk or by telephoning 01895 277655.

Attention was drawn to the suggested list of activities as examples of ‘What makes a Good SACRE Member’. SACRE members were asked to select/consider what areas on the list should be focused on. It was suggested that a special evening meeting should be arranged so that the meeting could focus on becoming a better SACRE member.

Following a 10 minutes group discussions, feedback from the groups were given as follows:

• Agreed that training would be very valuable  - to be arranged for one evening
• Did not consider that there was a need for SACRE members to spend time in school in order to become a ‘good SACRE member’
• More information about the role of a SACRE member should be provided
• Inform SACRE members as to what it would be like to give advice to schools
• There should be contact numbers for faith representatives to enable SACRE members to make contact if needed
• There should be induction programme for new members
• Did not consider that visiting various schools would be appropriate

Mike Gettleson advised that the annual training organised by the Board of British Jews covered the role of SACRE members as well as new legislations. It was suggested that perhaps Harrow and Hillingdon SACRE members could be invited to future annual British Jews training days, as some of the topics covered would be beneficial.

 Duncan Struthers reported that the Hillingdon Community Trust had given a grant of £6,700 to deliver interfaith dialogue into schools in order to promote better understanding of differing faiths.

SACRE members were asked to discuss within their faith communities, the idea of faith representatives going into schools to talk about their faith journeys.

It was explained that this proposal would be explored further in 2011 and schools would be contacted and invited to get involved on a voluntary basis. The main aim of the scheme would be to meet the needs of schools.  Updates and further details would be provided nearer the time.

Eric Blaire gave an update on the Brunel Research Project and advised that the first stage of the research which involved the use of questionnaires had been completed. The research was now progressing on to the second stage which would consist of interviews with groups of sixth formers on a group basis, as well as on a one-to-one basis.

Further details about the first stage of the Brunel Research Project could be obtained on request by emailing Eric Blaire at ericblaire46@gmail.com.

 The meeting was advised that following the distribution of the Hillingdon Religious Education Syllabus (RE), some helpful comments had been received. It was noted that the RE Syllabus and Celebrating RE would be discussed at the next meeting of Hillingdon Governors.

Any SACRE member interested in becoming a school governor was asked to contact Eric Blaire for further details.

Mike Gettleson commented that a website designed in 2000 http://hsacre.mikrotime.com/contents.html, which summarised the work of SACRE and provided information for parents had also been updated with the RE Syllabus. He advised that some visits had been made to the syllabus and that viewers could easily browse through the sections that interested them by simply clicking on the required logo.

A leaflet advertising the Hillingdon Interfaith week from the Hillingdon Inter Faith Network was circulated. Members were encouraged to attend on any of the various events arranged from Sunday 21 to Saturday 27 November 2010.  Attention was drawn to the Hillingdon High Schools Inter Faith Conference (on Prejudice) being held on Thursday 25 November at Swakeleys School from 12.30 – 3.30pm.  It was suggested that representatives from each of the faith group in the borough should attend this conference.

Those who had attended the conference would be asked to post their comments about the conference on FRONTER. 

Mike Gettleson extended a special invitation to SACRE members to attend the annotated service and explanation service at the Ruislip Synagogue on Friday 26 November from 7pm, which he advised would be less than an hour long.