Agenda item

The Senior Effectiveness Officer reported that no record had been found of the £1,300 that had been ring fenced in 2016 for purchasing RE resources (formerly stored at Montem Primary School); or record of the money being passed on to the Oxford Diocese .

It was confirmed that the ring fenced funding of £1,300 had however been reinstated.

Members discussed that the money should be carried over, as it had been ring fenced for the sole purpose of purchasing or providing RE resources for schools.

With regard to the issue of carrying over money to the next financial year, Rev Briggs advised that SACRE could either direct accounts to make an accrual to carry over to spend in the new financial year, or pass the money to Oxford Diocese to retain and return to SACRE when needed. The remaining £395 underspend from the SACRE budget could also be carried over in this way.

During discussions the following possible options for spending the remaining money were suggested:

·  Increase the number of RE network meetings.

·  Check whether/how schools could be supported using some of the money. It was acknowledged that this option would be an issue in the current Covid-19 environment, as paper resources could not yet be used.

·  Increase the level of training.

·  Retain the money until restrictions were lifted as it would be hard to engage speakers to visit schools in the current environment.

(The Professional Adviser left the meeting).

Resolved:

i)  That SACRE directs the School Effectiveness Officer to liaise with Rev Briggs to make an accrual for the carryover of £1,300 ring fenced RE resources money

ii)  That an accrual be made for £395 underspend from the SACRE budget to be carried over to the next financial year.

iii)  That the RE Network meetings be increased to six meetings this year.

iv)  That due to Covid-19, expenditure on resources using ring fenced money be put on hold until the lifting of restrictions.