Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Mr Michael Bishop, Mrs Mary Abbott and Mrs Punitha Perinparaja.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance of the following Reserve Council Members:

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interest made by Members in relation to the business to be transacted at this meeting.

The Chair, Pat Stevens, welcomed Members of the Council, and Suhaila Merali who was a student of Arabic who taught children at the Hsani Shia Islamic Centre.  Mrs Elizabeth Rankin would be joining the meeting later.

RESOLVED: (1)  That the minutes of the meeting on the 17 September 2003 having been circulated, were signed as a correct record;

(2) that advice would be sought from the Law and Administration Division as to whether it was acceptable to keep signed copies of the minutes in a ring binder.

Drama Material from faith groups for Hatch End High School

Dr Thompson explained that Hatch End was arranging an International Evening in March 2004, in which Hatch End students, who were aged 12?16 years, would perform music, and dance.  It was hoped that there would be 4 dramas about each of the main world faiths and one interfaith drama.  Dr Thompson had asked members of the different faith groups for material.  Mrs Jaffer noted that Umi Merali had written a nativity play about Isa’s birth from a Muslim perspective and that this may be suitable for Hatch End School to use.  Cllr Patel and Martha Besser offered to forward material about Hinduism and the Baha’I Faiths respectively.

Cllr Asante explained that in some African churches, great emphasis was placed on Palm Sunday, adding that she will endeavour to find something to reflect the African style of worship.  Dr Thompson explained that the golden rule of ‘Do unto others as they would do unto you’ was applicable to all major faiths and this unifying concept might be useful in presentations.

Advice on Sex and Relationships

Gill Roberts, Curriculum Leader for Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), who spoke at a SACRE Meeting in June 2003 about PSHE, asked for advice from faith groups about sex, relationships and drugs and also guidance on areas of sensitivity with regard to Physical Education (PE).  Forms for responses were tabled.  Gill Roberts noted that she had already received information from Jewish and Roman Catholic sources and also a leaflet produced by the Baha’I Faith.

One World Celebration Autumn 2003

There had been presentations by various faith communities as part of the One World Celebration at Northwick Park Hospital, and churches in Central and North Harrow.  The events had been successful and it was noted that there was a common thread running through each performance. 

Annual SACRE Lecture

Members who had attended the SACRE Lecture on 13 November 2003, by the Hon. Barnabas Leith of the Baha’I Faith agreed that the lecture was very interesting and well presented with useful slides.  They felt that they had gained an excellent insight into the Baha’I Faith. 

QCA/SACRE Conference

Pat Stevens had attended the QCA/SACRE Conference where Barbara Wintersgill had reported on the progress of the development of the religious education across the country.  Pat Stevens explained that currently each local authority produces its own agreed syllabus but in 2003 a non-statutory syllabus was being produced by QCA.  It was felt that the syllabus might produce some useful material, which individual SACREs could opt to use.  Pat Stevens also reported that the roles of SACREs had tended to be wider than in the past when they were restricted to working with schools.

Nower Hill High School Governor Enquiry

Pat Stevens reported that the SACRE constitution had been forwarded to the governor who wished to know how SACRE is constituted.  It was considered by Members that it would be useful to produce a SACRE Handbook, which would outline its  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

The Chair reminded Members that schools could apply to SACRE for a ‘determination’, which would exempt them from the requirement to hold collective worship that was wholly or mainly of a broadly Christian character.  It was reported that Roxeth Manor Middle and Marlborough Schools are currently consulting in relation to determinations.  Further information would be available at the next meeting.

RESOLVED: To note there were no new determinations for discussion at this meeting.

The Draft report was tabled.  It was noted that the report must be sent to the QCA in February 2004 so a draft would need to be produced early in the Spring Term 2004.

The Chair presented the report and drew the attention of members to some of the key points.  She explained that there would be a letter from the Chair at the beginning of the report giving an overview of Harrow, noting that it was an area with a high proportion of worshippers and a substantial number of faiths including Baha’I, Jain and Zoroastrian.

Dr Thompson asked if something could be added about the importance of sacred languages in faiths.  The Chair confirmed that summaries of presentations to SACRE meetings, including that of Dr Thompson would be included in the report.  The SACRE Annual lecture would also be mentioned.

GCSE Full and Short Courses

It was noted that the number of entries to GCSE Full and Short courses had risen considerably in 2003.  It was explained that the Short Course was the first half of a Full Course and covered issues from the perspective of different faiths.  The second half of the Full Course provides students’ with an opportunity to study a particular religion.  Dr Thompson explained that some Hatch End High School pupils took their RE GCSE a year early, allowing them to improve their examination technique before the main exam period.  The Short Course covers statutory work but there is an examination at the end.  Other Short Courses such as History and Citizenship were also being introduced.  It was added that two Short Courses are equivalent to a full GCSE.

Brian Haylock reported that he had attended Weald Middle School that day on behalf of Christmas Care.  He had talked about Christmas, paralleling the experiences of people such as Mary and Joseph, the kings etc, preparing themselves for the first Christmas and people now preparing for Christmas.  Some of the similarities he gave were: announcing, getting ready and presenting gifts.  He asked the children to think about someone to whom they would like to send a greeting or a present.  He had ended the session with “My prayer for you would be….” he had not asked the children to pray, so it was inclusive.  Brian felt that the assembly would have given an insight into what Christians do at Christmas.

RESOLVED: Members agreed to the main headings as drafted in the report.

It was noted that Harrow Council Communications are discussing with Councillors the possibility of an Interfaith Week from 28 June to 4 July 2004 as part of the Council’s 50^th Anniversary celebrations.  Ideas for inclusion included:

·            Interfaith Service

·            A picnic with events for children at St Mary’s, Harrow on the Hill for all faiths.  St Mary’s is the oldest church building in the borough and possibly built on the site of a heathen shrine.  Balloons with a dove of peace had been suggested.  The possible date is 3 July.

·            All faiths to have ‘at homes’ to invite schools etc, to look at places of worship.

·            An exhibition of all faiths, possibly at St George’s Shopping Centre.

·            A photograph exhibition – perhaps with schools having access to the resources afterwards.

·            Publicity provided by Harrow Council.  It was envisaged that there would be large and small banners and posters that could be displayed in public areas including on notice boards of places of worship to emphasise the fact that different faith groups were working together.

More details about the celebrations would be communicated to members in due course.

Pamela Wearing reported that it was St Dominic’s 25^th Anniversary this year and also St Gabrielle’s Church in South Harrow was to be officially opened on 13 December 2003. 

Mr Paramjit Singh Kohli mentioned that there were three important Sikh anniversaries around the time of Harrow’s 50^th Anniversary so this may provide some material for the Sikh contribution.

The Chair asked for further ideas for the celebrations.

RESOLVED:  That the Chair write to all faith communities asking for contributions to the celebrations.  

From Harrow Council People First

·            Training in monitoring opportunities for pupils’ spiritual, moral and social and cultural education.  Patrick O’Dwyer explained that day courses for teachers were being set up to enable them to evaluate pupils’ spiritual, moral and social and cultural education.  Gill Roberts was doing the same exercise with citizenship.

·            Training sessions on Tuesday 16 March 2004 at Harrow Teachers’ Centre.  There are 2 sessions: teachers meet the faith communities 4.30 – 6.00 pm; and Governor responsibilities for Religious Education and collective Worship 7.30 – 9.00 pm Refreshments will be served in between the sessions.  SACRE Members were invited to attend either or both of the sessions.  Leaders of faith communities would be invited direct but SACRE Members were encouraged to mention the events to anyone they thought would find them useful.

·            Harrow Connexions

This item was carried over to the next meeting.

From Schools

·            Rooks Heath High School, Mrs Elizabeth Rankin.

Mrs Rankin explained that her school, situated in South Harrow, had a mix of students.  There was a statutory obligation for schools to teach 1 hour of RE per week to every pupil and Rooks Heath, unlike some other schools in the borough, was always able to provide this.  Until 2003, however, no examinations were taken although the syllabus followed by Year 10 and Year 11 pupils was similar to that required for GCSE work.  Mrs Rankin was initially reluctant to introduce examinations but having done so was very enthusiastic about the experience.  The school had entered all pupils who had wanted to sit the GCSE Short Course, including some children with English as an additional language and 8 pupils who were ungraded.  Mrs Rankin felt that for some pupils, RE provided a unique forum where they could express themselves.  She stressed that students from faith communities who obtained A and A* would not have achieved those grades if they had not been able to give another’s point of view, as well as their own.  Rooks Heath pupil Jessie Weir, had had a letter from the Chief Examiner saying that she had been one of only 30 students obtaining 100% out of 82,000 taking the exam.  Mrs Rankin explained that there were plans to introduce the Citizenship GCSE Short Course to the school.  The results of children who took both short courses would be included in performance tables.

The Chair thanked Mrs Rankin for her lively and enthusiastic talk.

From Faith Communities

The Sikh Academy

Mr Paramjit Singh Kholi reported that the Sikh Academy was using the RE GCSE short course.

Husaini Centre

Suhaila Merali showed Members a computer programme that she had written to assess what children had learnt in Ramadan lessons.  The programme, which was called ‘Who wants to win a Million?’ was based on the format of ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’.  Suhaila Merali explained she had written the programme so that the questions could be changed and adapted for use with any audience.  She said she found it a useful teaching  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

QCA ‘Religious Education and Collective Worship – An analysis of 2002 SACRE reports’.

‘SACRE News’.

The above items had been sent to members with the agenda.

Council of Hindus

A copy of Harrow’s agreed syllabus had been sent to the Council of Hindus so the Hindu section could be scrutinised.

Term Minority Ethnic

It was suggested that the term ‘Minority Ethnic’ would be a more suitable term to use than ‘Ethnic Minority’.

Venue

Pat Stevens reported that QCA had suggested that SACRE Meetings could take place at places of worship and schools.

RESOLVED:  Members agreed that the possibility of some meetings being held in venues outside the Civic Centre be explored.

RESOLVED: That the following date for future meetings of SACRE be noted:

11 March 2004