Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded that at the start of the meeting they should declare any known interests in any matter to be considered, and also during the meeting if it becomes apparent that they have an interest in the matters being discussed.

The Chair reminded Members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting.  No declarations were made.

See explanatory note below.  Please phone the Committee Officer whose name and number appears at the top of this agenda if you need further guidance.

            No public questions were received during the meeting.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2009.  

Also attached for information (ref Minute 7) is the response submitted to the consultation on Curriculum Review.

Resolved – That the minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd June 2009 be approved.

Further to Minute 7, the SACRE noted the formal response which had been submitted by the SACRE Advisor to the consultation on Curriculum Review, alongside an online submission.

Further to Minute 9, the SACRE Advisor confirmed she would be approaching the Chair of SASH (Swindon Association of Secondary Headteachers) on the best way to encourage teachers to attend the Secondary network meetings.

            The Clerk to the SACRE presented a report updating the SACRE on changes to its membership, including advising that Reverend Paul Knight was stepping down from the SACRE at this meeting to take up a new position in Northamptonshire.

            Resolved - 1) That the Membership update be noted.

2) That Reverend Paul Knight be thanked for his service to the SACRE over many years.

3) That theSACRE Advisor and Clerk seek suitable representatives to fill the vacancies in Group D (Other Christian Denominations and Other Faiths).

            Paula Harrison (Community Support Manager) and Kati Wood (Neighbourhood Engagement Officer) presented the final report on the Face to Faith pilot project.  The project had ran during the academic year, September 2009 to July 2009, in four secondary schools: Kingsdown Secondary School, Commonweal School, Ridgeway School and Nova Hreod School.  It had used workshops with young people to explore their understanding of faith, and the issues associated with having faith in society, and had culminated in arts projects and films produced by the young people in conjunction with Create studios.

            The SACRE viewed the films produced including one on how the project came about, and films from each of the four schools.  It was noted that these had been shown at a showcase event held at the Arts Centre, which had been very successful.

            The SACRE praised the outcome of the project, and agreed that the project had been an extremely effective use of the funding from the successful application to the National Association of SACREs and community cohesion funding.

            The report to the SACRE highlighted the objectives which had been achieved well in terms of enabling young people to explore faith and non-faith positions, and where it still had outcomes to meet in terms of linking into community and other faith groups in the town, and enabling the schools to use the material.   The SACRE reviewed the Schools Resource booklet, which had been produced to enable other schools to utilise the specific activities undertaken by each of the school groups, and were advised by Kati Wood on the options being explored to carry out similar projects in other schools, subject to suitable funding being identified.  The SACRE gave consideration to the next steps for promoting the material arising from the project.

            Resolved :-  1) That the SACRE notes the successful completion of the Face to Faith Pilot and thanks Community Support Manager and Neighbourhood Engagement Officer for their work on the Project.

            2) That the Schools Resource booklet is approved, subject to a correction to the use of religious symbols on page 3 for the version to be placed on the Council’s website and when reprinted.

            3) That the Chair, SACRE Advisor and Clerk meet with the Community Support Manager and Neighbourhood Engagement Officer to agree how to publicise the Face to Faith Resource Booklet and DVDs to schools, faith groups and with other young people, including agreeing the outcomes sought, and how these materials can be linked to the current Agreed Syllabus and Schemes of Work.

To receive a short presentation from a member of the SACRE on their faith, with the opportunity for questions from SACRE members.

             Reverend Arthur Woo of the Church of England gave an oral presentation to the SACRE regarding his own personal history and his faith, and received questions from Members in respect of his presentation.

            Resolved – 1) That Reverend Arthur Woo be thanked for his interesting insight into his faith.

            2) Councillor Mick Bray give a presentation on his faith at the next SACRE meeting. 

            The Chair had invited Jo Garton to bring to the meeting and display pictures produced by her year 5 / 6 class as part of the unit of work on ‘Artists interpretations of Jesus’.  The SACRE praised the work and the diversity in the children’s image of Jesus, and the SACRE appreciated the opportunity to get closer to children’s views, which are not always directly available to the SACRE.  Subject to their completion and the children giving permission, it was suggested that the pictures form a display for use in the Civic Offices reception, with information on the work of the SACRE.

            Mr Dinesh Patel invited SACRE members to a celebration at the Link Centre on Saturday 26^th September from 8.30 pm – 11 pm, as part of the Hindu Community’s nine day Navraatri festival.

            Mr Arun Bedi advised that the Swindon Interfaith Group was holding an event on 28^th October from 7 pm – 9.30 pm at the Pilgrim Centre, which would be an opportunity for people of different faiths, including young people, to give a presentation of their beliefs.  Mr Bedi extended an invitation to all members of the SACRE.

The next meeting of the SACRE is on 1 December 2009. 

            The SACRE noted that the next meeting of the SACRE would be held on Tuesday 1^st December at 6 pm.