Minutes:
The aim of SACRE in promoting quality Religious Education in schools, and collective worship, was discussed.
The ideas put forward were:
- SACRE should be doing more to use the people of Slough as a resource, together with a sharing of best practice between schools and religious communities. For example, it was confirmed that children in C of E schools were empowered to plan and deliver collective worship, a task that allowed the children to enjoy themselves whilst becoming actively involved with Religious Education. Guidance on how these lessons were delivered should be shared. Teachers should be able to visit each other and discuss such best practice.
- Slough has a large number of religious sites and places of worship that could be used for school visits. Children greatly enjoy and learn from such visits, though it was acknowledged that the tours should be administered by people with the appropriate training, to ensure the children are getting the most possible from such visits. These could include twilight visits, for example 4.30 to 6.00 pm. The potential cost to transport the children to such places was acknowledged.
- Slough SACRE could be doing more to cooperate with Windsor & Maidenhead, though with the caveat that there may be budgetary concerns.
- Potential use of Learning Outside the Classroom (LOTC) could be explored.
- A newsletter was deemed an excellent idea, to be forwarded to school RE coordinators. If schools do not have a coordinator, an email could be sent to the general email inbox (e.g. post@school.uk etc) for dissemination.
With regards to actioning the above, it was agreed that these items would be passed to the Professional Advisor, once appointed.