The Chair outlined the progress which had been made on the draft review of the syllabus. An email from Karen Butler (vice-chair) was read to the group and outlined that there was some work to be carried out with the syllabus draft and that there had been good representation, changes to non-religious world views had been welcomed and that Teachers had been enthusiastic to revisions.

Anne Andrews (RE adviser) informed the group that she had sent the sixth draft version of the agreed syllabus to all of the Church of England Schools in Berkshire. Members of the group were updated on the conversations that had occurred at the hub group meeting earlier in the month at Wokingham Borough Council. It was raised that use of the word “how” within Key stage questions could be adapted or combined as long as the context was maintained. Members were reminded that the final deadline for comments was the 20^th May 2018 and that these should be forwarded directly to Jan Lever. Members agreed that the length and format of the agreed syllabus document was good for KS1 and KS2 teachers. Members discussed that there had been no radical changes to the syllabus and that this made it easier for teachers to create or amend existing teaching materials. The expected outcomes referenced throughout the document were welcomed for schools that currently had discovery or diocesan values.

Members discussed whether the inclusion of “for e.g. humanism, atheism, secularism” as an alternative to wording throughout the document should be used. It was felt that the original wording could encourage teachers to use humanism as a secondary option, which was not seen as negative but limited teachers to  teaching a particular non-religious world view and that it was important to allow teachers to have freedom to teach other specialist world views. It was agreed that this would be raised with Jan Lever and that particular attention to alternate non-religious world views would be dealt with in the foreword or glossary of the document. It was also highlighted that as this is a pan-Berkshire document not all of the recommendations from RBWM would necessarily be taken into account.

Funding for the implementation of the syllabus, online guidance and hosting of any website were discussed. It was noted that the Berkshire SACRE budgets differed and that there would be a proposed fee of £900 per SACRE to maintain and host the syllabus, its framework and online guidance. Clive Haines, Schools Leadership Development Manager confirmed that the annual SACRE budget was £6000 and that after the launch of the syllabus conference that the budget would be approximately £3000. Members were informed that there had been some guidance around funding given at the hub meeting and that there was still some consultation with the Berkshire SACRE groups to be carried out. It was discussed that further guidance on costs were needed and that Anne Andrews would liaise with Jan Lever and deliver an update to the next SACRE Group meeting to be held in June. Members wanted the guidance to be available before the start of the September term to allow Teachers to plan ahead.