The Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) met on 28 February 2024 to discuss RE learning in the borough, local and national updates, and support for RE and collective worship. Key decisions included the confirmation of previous minutes and the agreement to update the SACRE Action Plan to reflect new proposals.

RE Learning in the Borough

The SACRE RE Adviser reported on recent sessions for Bromley secondary and primary school teachers. A session for secondary teachers focused on navigating dialogue regarding the situation in the Middle East, with nine teachers from five schools attending and finding the resources and activities positively received. A further session was requested due to high engagement. A primary RE session that afternoon covered selecting winning entries for the inter-faith calendar competition, discussing what constitutes good RE, and sharing ideas for developing pupils' thinking time. Teacher representatives shared their use of floor books and discussed preparing primary pupils for secondary school transition, with an emphasis on the importance of questions and listening to others' responses. The SACRE RE Adviser noted that approximately 25 schools are in regular contact, indicating a positive impact from the work on the syllabus, networks, and resources.

Local and National Updates

The council was informed that the government would not be renewing its funding to the national Inter Faith Network (IFN), leading to its closure. This development underscored the increased importance of local networks. The SACRE RE Adviser noted the overlap between the Bromley IFN network and SACRE membership, suggesting a potential for bringing them together. Ideas discussed included developing REal Resources for schools and holding an inter-faith workshop where faith representatives could discuss RE curriculum concepts. The SACRE Adviser plans to apply for Westhill Funding to progress these initiatives, with a deadline of 31 March 2024.

The council also discussed an Ofsted report from May 2021 on Religious Education, which highlighted concerns about the general quality of RE nationally. The SACRE RE Adviser reassured members that Bromley's Locally Agreed Syllabus contrasted positively with the report's findings. Questions for schools to consider, based on the Ofsted report, were provided. The upcoming NASACRE Conference and AGM on 20 May 2024 was mentioned as a potential forum for further discussion on the Ofsted report.

Discussions also touched upon linking Church of England schools' training networks with those provided by the Local Authority, with a meeting to be arranged between the SACRE RE Adviser and a representative from the Rochester Diocesan Board of Education. The school Governor survey was highlighted as useful in identifying schools following different RE syllabuses, enabling targeted engagement.

RE and Collective Worship Support

The results of a school Governor survey were presented, revealing that most schools do not have a named Governor for RE, though some would now consider it. Governors generally expressed a desire to remain informed or receive training on RE. The survey also indicated that school websites should clearly state the RE curriculum taught and list the subject lead. A proposal was made to review Bromley school websites to assess available information, with SACRE members assisting in this task. A Google Form has been devised to capture this data.

The Bromley RE Agreed Syllabus is available online, and there was a suggestion to upload videos and pictures of pupils' work to showcase achievements. A discrepancy was noted where 18 schools claimed to follow the Bromley Agreed Syllabus, but five were found not to be doing so. The legal obligation for academies to follow a locally agreed syllabus was reiterated, with specific considerations for Church of England schools.

A significant number of Governors expressed a desire for RE training, leading to the suggestion of holding a dedicated session for Governors and non-teachers, potentially combined with a SACRE event demonstrating good RE. The Local Authority's Governor Forums and Briefings were identified as potential venues for such training.

The council also discussed the need to engage more with Headteachers, acknowledging the pressures of curriculum time. Potential avenues for linking with school leaders include mental health forums and Governor Forums. The possibility of developing inter-faith workshops, if Westhill Funding is secured, was also mentioned. It was agreed that the SACRE RE Adviser would record a video introducing SACRE, which could also be used by councillors. A meeting is to be arranged between the Chairman, LBB Heads of School Standards and Educational Effectiveness, and the SACRE RE Adviser to discuss these proposals.

Interfaith Dialogue Resources

The school Special Objects Project, involving several Bromley schools, received positive feedback and was featured as Research of the Month by the Culham St Gabriel's Trust. The project team has been invited to speak at two national conferences. The winners of the inter-faith calendar competition were selected, with submissions representing diverse religions and worldviews. A list of religious and non-religious events and festivals will be drafted and sent to faith representatives for verification before the calendar is finalised.

SACRE Action Plan (Including Relationships with Schools)

An updated SACRE Action Plan for September 2023-September 2024 was presented. Actions marked in green were noted as complete. The plan will be updated to include the review of school websites, the production of a video about SACRE's role, and the proposed inter-faith workshop event.