
Meeting
Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education Agreed Syllabus Conference - Hampshire
Scheduled Time
Tuesday, 9th November 2021
1:30 PM
Tuesday, 9th November 2021
5:30 PM
Actual Time
Tuesday, 9th November 2021
12:00 AM
Tuesday, 9th November 2021
12:00 AM
Confirmed
09 Nov 2021
Ashburton Hall, Hampshire County Council, Winchester
Father John Chandler
Roman Catholic Church
Present, as expected
Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo
Muslim
Apologies
Danny Habel
Jewish Community
Present, as expected
Charmian Harrison
Methodists
Absent
Chris Hughes
Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches
Present, as expected
Yasmeen Hussain
Muslim
Present, as expected
Elizabeth Jenkerson
Baha'i
Present, as expected
Rhian Jones
Salvation Army
Apologies
Sushma Sahajpal
Hindu
Apologies
Eli Stewart
Baptist Union
Present, as expected
Lisa-Marie Taylor
Buddhist
Present, as expected
Noel Thorpe-Tracey
Society of Friends
Apologies, sent representative
Harjinder Virdee
Sikh Representative
Present, as expected
Reverend Jeff Williams
Church of England
Present, as expected
Sue Bowen
Church of England
Present, as expected
Rev Howard Wright
Church of England
Present, as expected
Maria Ackland
Church of England
Present, as expected
Robert Sanders
Church of England
Not required
Maureen Barnes
Teachers' Liaison Panel
Present, as expected
Graeme Rowe
Teachers' Liaison Panel
Apologies
Julie Kelly
Teachers' Liaison Panel
Present, as expected
Jon Hamer
Teachers' Liaison Panel - Secondary Schools
Present, as expected
Rachel Jackson
Teachers' Liaison Panel - Primary Schools
Present, as expected
Carson Elday
Teachers' Liaison Panel - Special Schools
Present, as expected
Elizabeth Jenkerson indicated that she was a judge for the Westhill awards. Councillor Donnelly stated that he was a governor of a Church of England primary school.
- Document 2020-03-03 ASC DRAFT minutes 01 Nov 2021
- Document 2021-11-09 - ASC - Agreed Syllabus Report 01 Nov 2021
It was noted that the review had been undertaken in a difficult educational climate and religious education context and at a particular point in history with the Covid-19 pandemic and the climate crisis. In the last six months the Ofsted subject review had emphasised that the locally agreed syllabus was what local authority schools should be teaching and had reiterated the requirement to teach RE across all key stages in all schools.
Living Difference IV was not a precise prescription for what to teach but provides teachers with a set of principles for teaching and for making the curriculum for their schools. Living Difference IV placed more emphasis on teachers and their teaching and curriculum making. Living Difference IV also intends to make better links between the purpose statement and progression.
A number of elements in the new syllabus had remained the same as in Living Difference III – the purpose statement, the process for teaching religious education and for making a curriculum. Living Difference IV retains the three broad groups of concepts/words.
The changes that had been made were detailed; these included the choice of title and front cover illustration and the replacement of ‘Enquire’ with ‘Inquire’ in the process for teaching which continues to be known as the cycle of enquiry. New legislation, particularly with regard to the Early Years Framework, had been taken into account. Religion specific material had been discussed and approved by scholars. There was now improved coherence and progression between key stages, particularly the primary to secondary transition. Four ‘Golden Thread ‘concepts – community, belonging, love and special – had been developed which would weave throughout the key stages to ensure continuity within and between key stages. The End of Year Expectations (EYE’s) had been redeveloped to link more closely with the Purpose Statement. The appendices had been revised with new ones added, and the bibliography had been extended. The position of the syllabus in relation to the Religion and World Views debate had been articulated in the appendices. There was a new option for teachers of using up to 20% of curriculum time as ‘pondering time’, where children and young people would be able to explore their own interests.
Members were briefly shown exemplar cycles of enquiry for year one and year eight.
Following an opportunity to ask questions the four groups convened to vote on the proposed adoption of the revised syllabus.
It was unanimously agreed to approve Living Difference IV.
RESOLVED:
a) The Agreed Syllabus Conference approved the revised Agreed Syllabus, Living Difference IV, and recommended to the local authority that it should be the Locally Agreed Syllabus for use across the authority’s schools.
b) That following the virtual launch on 30 November 2021, Living Difference IV would be made available to schools for use in making the religious education curriculum as well as guiding the teaching process in Hampshire schools.
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