Agenda item

Report of the Director of People

The Group Director of People submitted a report (previously circulated) to give further consideration to the review of the Locally Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education in Darlington and the options available.

It was reported that following the last meeting of the Agreed Syllabus Conference (ASC) when it was proposed by Members that further consultation be carried with the authorities three maintained schools to seek their views on the Syllabus options A and B from RE Today Services.

On 14 February 2022 the Chair of SACRE, Jenny Uzzell and the Lead Officer, Anne Davison met virtually with representatives from Harrogate Hill Primary School and Whinfield Primary School to seek their views to be taken into account when the ASC make their final decision on the choice of syllabus.  Redhall Primary School did not attend this meeting and Anne Davison contacted them directly with the information shared. Following further contact with the schools by the Lead Officer the Head Teacher of Harrowgate Hill Primary School expressed a preferred option.

Members discussed further Syllabus Options A and B and taking into consideration the views of the three maintained schools and agreed on Option B.

Members also discussed the capacity to offer schemes of work for Buddhism o personalise the syllabus for Darlington to add schemes of work for Buddhism in KS1 and KS2 and to include additional resources on Quakerism to be made available for use by teachers.  This will be discussed further at the next meeting of SACRE to review how to progress this.

IT WAS AGREED – (a) That the representative Groups A, B, C and D present at the meeting unanimously approve Syllabus Option B from RE Today Services.

(b) That the Local Authority officers liaise with RE Today Services to commence the process with a view that the Syllabus can be offered for adoption by Cabinet at the meeting scheduled for 14 June 2022.