Agenda, decisions and minutes

An Opportunity for Prayer or Quiet Reflection

The meeting was opened with a prayer by Councillor Menna Baines and time was taken for quiet meditation.

To receive any apologies for absence

Apologies were received from Miriam Amlyn (NAS/UWT), Beca Brown (Education Cabinet Member), Garem Jackson (Head of Education Department), Heledd Jones (NEU), Edward Pari-Jones (Humanist) and Gwawr M. Williams (The Presbyterian Church of Wales)

To receive any declaration of personal interest

No declarations of personal interest were received.

To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chair for consideration

No urgent items were received.

The Chair shall propose that the minutes of the previous meeting of this committee held on the 29th November, 2022 be signed as a true record

RESOLVED to accept the minutes of a meeting of this Committee held on 29 November, 2022, as a true record and the Chair signed them. 

An update was provided on Item 7: How can SACRE monitor Standards within Gwynedd Schools from 2022? It was confirmed that there currently was no intention to visit schools, but that the matter would be given further consideration at a future meeting following receiving guidance from WASACRE

An Update regarding the Cyngor Gwynedd Plan  in relation to the Agreed Syllabus for Religion, Values and Ethics

To approve the Cyngor Gwynedd Plan.

It was confirmed that Cyngor Gwynedd's Cabinet had received Welsh Government Guidance in a previous meeting, but that Gwynedd needed to create its own Plan, based on the Guidance. It was confirmed that once the Plan received the seal of approval of SACRE it would become a Final Plan.  It was noted that it was hoped that schools had the essential resources, especially in Welsh, in order for the Plan to succeed.

RESOLVED:  To approve the Cyngor Gwynedd Plan.

A discussion on the Present Collective Worship Guidelines

As the Guidance had now become dated, it was agreed that the Guidance needed to be updated.  It was decided to establish a Working Group, to include representatives of the Religions, Councillors and Teachers, to look at updating the Guidance.  The offer made by Councillor Elin Walker Jones and Reverend Nick Sissons to be part of the Working Group was accepted and it was agreed to enquire about more members, outside the meeting.

The SACRE Clerk presented the item and confirmed that the Guidance were now dated, although the Legislation remained the same. She confirmed, in terms of the Statutory Requirement, that there was no requirement for a document, but that it appeared that schools see it beneficial having access to the document. The Clerk questioned if an update was needed?  How did SACRE wish to move forward to make any updates and who would be willing to contribute to the work? The importance for pupils to meet jointly was noted, and the concern that it appeared that schools were not meeting together was noted. 

It was noted that there was a feeling that the Guidance needed to be updated in terms of:

Getting to grips with the Imbalance in the Guidance:

Need new examples as there was a great deal about the Christian calendar, as well as offering Christian examples, and not much mention of faith or calendars such as those of Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, or Judaism. The concern on the imbalance was noted and the value being lost by not learning about other religions.

Dated observations or vocabulary:

e.e. "an act of worship must be held every day" and it was felt that the requirement to maintain this remained but not in the same way.  

Regular use of the word "worship" and the need for a definition of the term

The language of the Guidance reflects the present world by now, such as the need for the reference to calming down and to consider mental health issues and spiritual wellbeing. 

Maybe some teachers would be more willing to lead on meditation rather than worshipping.

The way forward

It was suggested that establishing a Panel/Sub-panel/Working Group was a way forward to include representatives from the faith and education groups.  It was also noted that this would be a way to bring different media together. 

RESOLVED: As the Guidance had now become dated, it was agreed that the Guidance needed to be updated.  It was decided to establish a Working Group, to include representatives from the Religions, Councillors and Teachers to look at updating the Guidance. The offer made by Councillor Elin Walker Jones and Reverend Nick Sissons to be part of the Working Group was accepted and it was agreed to enquire about more members, outside the meeting.

i.               Letter from the Chair of WASACRE

ii.              Nominations for the WASACRE Executive

iii.             Date for the Diary : WASACRE Spring Meeting

i.               To send a letter to the WASACRE to thank them for their support during the production of the New Agreed Syllabus for Religion, Values and Ethics.

ii.              As no nominations for the Executive Committee were received during the meeting, it was decided to ask again outside the meeting.

iii.             The date was noted for the Spring Meeting of the WASACRE.

WASACRE Matters

i.               A letter from the Chair of the WASACRE

ii.              Nominations for the WASACRE Executive Committee

iii.             Note the date of the WASACRE Spring meeting

RESOLVED:

i.               To send a letter to the WASACRE to thank them for their support during the production of the New Agreed Syllabus for Religion, Values and Ethics.

ii.              As no nominations for the Executive Committee were received during the meeting, it was decided to ask again outside the meeting.

iii.             Note the date of the WASACRE Spring Meeting.

                        The meeting commenced at 3.30pm and concluded at 4.25 p.m.

CHAIR.