Agenda

To elect a Chair for this meeting of the Agreed Syllabus Conference.

This will be followed by welcome and introductions.

Note: Whilst the membership of the Agreed Syllabus Conference is the same as for Portsmouth Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education, this is a separate statutory body. 

(This virtual meeting replaces the cancelled meeting of 18^th March 2020.)

To receive and note any apologies for absence.

Members are asked to identify any pecuniary, prejudicial or personal interests on any matters on the agenda.

Note: Should any indication of an interest arise during the meeting, members are asked to declare at that time, as soon as is practicable.

RECOMMENDED that the minutes of the previous Agreed Syllabus Conference held on 6 October 2016 be agreed as a correct record.

To receive any written deputations from the public if any have been received.

Every five years each Local Authority is required to review its agreed syllabus for religious education.

This item will be presented by Patricia Hannam, Professional Adviser to SACRE.

Members will have received separately correspondence from Somerset County Council regarding the new Somerset Religious Education Syllabus, which is available to view at https://www.amvsomerset.org.uk/

The previously approved, Living Difference III syllabus (jointly with Hampshire Southampton and the Isle of Wight in December 2016) was also approved by the Cabinet Member for Education on 15 December 2016.

https://democracy.portsmouth.gov.uk/documents/s13508/06.1%20Living%20Difference%20III%20-%20December%202016%20-%20web%20final.pdf

RECOMMENDED that the Agreed Syllabus Conference agrees to review Living Difference III together with Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight with whom Portsmouth shares an agreed syllabus.

Note: This is subject to a formal vote the protocol for this is:

·          Each of the four groups of the Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC) discuss within their own groups their joint vote on the revised syllabus.

·         Each group is entitled to 1 vote and according to non-statutory guidance, in order for the revised syllabus to be approved, all four groups must vote in favour.

·         If the vote is not unanimous, the ASC must seek to arrive at a proposal which is acceptable to all four groups.

(If the situation remains unresolved, then the Secretary of State ultimately has the power to impose a syllabus on the authority.)

Subject to the agreement of the main agenda item, the Professional Adviser will be reporting on the way forward on the agreed syllabus.

The process of review and revision, where necessary, of LDIII will begin with an initial, virtual half-day meeting in the beginning of July. 4-6 members of each of the SACREs, at least one person from each group, involved will ‘meet’ to consider and add to initial proposals. Those who are interested from Portsmouth SACRE are invited to contact Patricia Hannam, Professional Adviser to SACRE patricia.hannam@hants.gov.uk

Following this a ‘writing group’ of teachers from each authority, will convene to undertake the work required.