Agenda item

To consider a draft annual report prior to publishing the final copy.

The Draft Gwynedd SACRE Annual Report for the 2014-15 academic year was presented for the members’ approval, prior to the publication of the final report.

(A)       Miss Bethan James explained that the purpose of the Annual Report was to summarise the work undertaken by SACRE over the previous year and it was important that the recommendations within the report were drawn to the authority's attention. Members were guided through the contents of the report and attention was drawn to the fact that 14 primary schools had submitted self-evaluation reports during 2013-14. 

In terms of the three key questions in the ESTYN common inspection framework and specifically the provision for collective worship, it was noted how important it was for SACRE Members to visit the collective worship sessions in schools in order to satisfy themselves that schools were in compliance with the statutory requirements.  It appeared that one secondary school in the Bangor vicinity was anxious for a member of Gwynedd SACRE to visit that school and therefore it would be useful for a member to visit when the invitation was received.

Attention was drawn to the fact that ESTYN inspections were a focus of last year's discussions in terms of Ysgol Crud y Werin, Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle and Ysgol y Gader.   A presentation was received by Ysgol Crud y Werin and an improvement was seen in the quality of the plans of the school in question.  Perhaps it may be timely to invite Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle and Ysgol y Gader to support SACRE by showing the progress made in both schools.

Attention was drawn to the SACRE work evaluation and satisfactory progress was seen against the majority of the priorities.       

It was noted that one of the recommendations referred to the offer of seasonal workshops for subject coordinators as they self-evaluate religious education and collective worship in their schools.   Miss Bethan James explained that she had conducted half day workshops in Anglesey for any School that required support and it would be possible to make similar arrangements in Gwynedd if this was desired.

In response to a query regarding the process of implementing and monitoring SACRE recommendations for the authority, it was noted that the recommendations would be submitted to the Head of Education.  

Miss Bethan James explained that it was the responsibility of SACRE to draft a religious education Agreed Syllabus for Gwynedd Schools.  Members were reminded that SACRE adopted a common framework as the Gwynedd Agreed Syllabus in 2008 and in accordance with the regulations the Agreed Syllabus should be revised every five years.   Gwynedd SACRE took the decision to wait prior to review until it was known what would happen with the new curriculum stemming from the recommendations of Professor Donaldson.  It was trusted that, through the new members of Gwynedd SACRE and a group of teachers to advise, this would assist SACRE to respond to the principles of the 'Successful Futures' report by Professor Donaldson.     

Resolved:       (a) To accept and note the contents of the draft annual report for 2014/15.

                        (b) To approve the recommendations proposed in the report.