Agenda item

The Senior School Effectiveness Officer introduced a report from the Head of Democratic Services that advised the SACRE of a motion passed at Slough Borough Council meeting on 23 July 2019 seeking the support of SACRE in the Council’s commitment to promote religious harmony and tolerance.

Members were requested to consider the motion and comment on any action that might be appropriate for SACRE to take to support the motion.

Members discussed various aspects of the report including the Council’s commitment to promote religious harmony and tolerance, which they stressed was already enshrined in the role of SACRE and its work in supporting schools and their curriculum.

Members considered that the MEND (Muslim Engagement and Development) definition of islamophobia was inappropriate and was not universally recognised, compared to the internationally recognised definition of antisemitism by the International Holocaust Remberance Alliance (IHRA). It was also perceived that the issue of islamophobia appeared to have been included at the last possible moment without significant consideration of the issue and alternative definition from the Muslim Council of Britain.

The SACRE noted that the motion had already been unanimously agreed at the Council meeting but nevertheless acknowledged that the main focus should be on the importance of supporting religious education (RE) in schools and promoting a better understanding of the issues of antisemitism and islamophobia. These issues could be incorporated in the syllabus and promoted through good practice during lessons and by inviting speakers to give a talk at assemblies.

Members agreed that provision of training on islamophobia would be helpful in promoting a better understanding of the issue and requested the Council to provide additional funding to support the training sessions as the SACRE budget was limited.

The SACRE Adviser would provide estimated costs for provision of separate training sessions for primary and secondary RE teachers and co-ordinators in Slough Schools to be met by additional Council funding.

Members recommended that it was incumbent on the Council to further promote religious harmony and tolerance by raising awareness through events commemorated in the community as well as those celebrated nationally.

Resolved:

i)  That the Antisemitism/Islamophobia – Council Motion be noted.

ii)  That it be requested that additional funding be allocated by the Council for SACRE to provide training sessions to support RE teachers and co-ordinators in primary and secondary schools in order to further promote religious harmony and tolerance within the school curriculum.

iii)  That SACRE recommended the Council to further promote religious harmony and tolerance by raising awareness through events commemorated in the community as well as those celebrated nationally.

(Julie Siddiqi and Zubayr Abbas-Bowkan left the meeting).