To consider
a draft annual report for 2015/16 prior to publishing a final copy.
(Copy
enclosed)
Minutes:
The Gwynedd SACRE Draft
Annual Report for the 2015/16 academic year was submitted 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 the importance
of bringing the recommendations
in the report to the Cabinet’s attention. Members were guided through
the report and the following main points were highlighted:
(i)
Self-evaluations - Gwynedd SACRE
was commended for its arrangement of receiving self evaluations by schools, and improvement
was seen in the quality of self-evaluations. It was also noted
that schools were appreciated for completing them. The number of self-evaluations received over five
years was noted, and between eight
and 14 were able to be scrutinised annually in Gwynedd. The Committee was reminded that agreement had been reached to name the schools. Reference was made to the issues that received
attention.
(ii)
Teachers' assessments - the Committee's attention was drawn to the recommendations
and it was noted that GCSE and A Level specifications
were available on the WJEC website. It must be ensured
that schools gain access to the subject guidelines of the WJEC examination board.
(iii)
In response to a member's enquiry with regard to raising the standard of results among boys,
it was noted that the data did not reflect the
nature of the cohort in every school. It was agreed that the recommendations for Gwynedd
Council needed to include a
reference to closing the
gap between boys and girls. It was further noted that
the AS material appealed
more to boys.
(iv)
The ESTYN review reports were referred
to, noting that unerringly in Gwynedd there was some reference to Religious Education and collective
worship. In terms of Collective
Worship this was acknowledged to be generally good and very
good at some schools. It was noted that
some schools collaborated well with local Chapels and
Churches as pupils learnt about
religion in the local area. During the ensuing discussion, Members were of the opinion that the table at point 2.3.3 should be removed and a letter sent to ESTYN to ensure correct use of terms with
regard to collective worship, noting that they welcomed
the references to the partnership
work undertaken between schools and religious groups.
It was further recommended that it would be beneficial
to add a question to the self-evaluation form so that schools
could note the partnership work undertaken with religious groups.
(v)
From a collective worship standpoint, it was hoped that
SACRE members would be invited to schools to participate in collective worshipping sessions. It was noted that
approximately three quarters of Môn SACRE members had
attended sessions and had conducted useful discussion sessions at the SACRE meeting.
Resolved: (a) To
accept, note and give thanks
for the annual report along with
the above mentioned observations.
(b)
Send ESTYN a letter expressing Gwynedd SACRE's wish that the inspector
ensure the correct use of terms with
respect to collective worship and draw attention to and acknowledge the good partnership work undertaken between schools and religious
groups in communities.
Supporting documents: