NORTH YORKSHIRE STANDING ADVISORY
COUNCIL ON RELIGIOUSEDUCATION
CONSTITUTION
SEPTEMBER 2024
CONSTITUTION
Contents
Section |
Page |
1. Terms of Establishment |
3 |
2. Duties and Responsibilities |
3 |
3. Aims and Priorities |
4 |
4. Attendance at Meetings |
4 |
5. Membership Groups |
4 |
6. Terms of Membership |
5 |
7. Specific Group Responsibilities |
6 |
8. Meetings |
7 |
9. Voting |
8 |
10. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair |
9 |
11. Management of the SACRE |
9 |
12. Complaints |
9 |
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1.1 The SACRE has been established under the provisions of Sections 390 - 397 of the Education Act 1996. Each Local Authority that provides an Education Service must establish a SACRE.
2.1 The SACRE must:
a) advise the Local Authority onReligious Education (RE), given in accordance with the agreed syllabus, collective worshipand on matters related to its functions, whether in response to a referral from the Local Authority, or as it sees fit. This includes requiring the Local Authority to set up a Statutory Conference to review the agreed syllabus if, in the opinion of the SACRE, this becomes necessary;
b) have regard to any circumstances relating to the faith backgrounds of the pupils which are relevant for deciding what character ofcollective worship is appropriate when a school makes application for a determination;
c) publish an Annual Report on its work andon actions taken by its representative Groups, specifying any matters on which it hasadvised theLocal Authority; broadly describe the nature of that advice; and set out reasons for offering advice on matters not referred to it by the Local Authority;
d) send a copy of theAnnual Report to NASACRE (National Association ofSACREs);
e) meet in public unless it is likely that confidential or exempt information is to be disclosed;
f) make Minutes of its meetings available for inspection at the Local Authority’s offices (so far as the Minutes relate to the parts of meetings that were open to the public). There arealso provisions about public access tothe agenda and reports for meetings.
2.2 The SACRE should:
a) monitor the provision and quality of RE taught, according to its Agreed Syllabus, together with the overall effectiveness of the syllabus and collective worship in community schools;
b) provide advice and support on the effective teaching of RE, in accordance with the locally agreed syllabus; provide advice to the Local Authority and its schools onmethods of teaching, the choice of teaching material and the provision of teacher training;
c) in partnership with its Local Authority, consider whether any changes need to be made in the agreed syllabus or in the support offered to schools in the implementation of the agreed syllabus, to improve the quality of teaching and learning of RE; and;
d) offer advice to the Local Authority and - through the Local Authority - to schools, concerning how an existing agreed syllabus canbe interpreted and collective worship provided, so as to fit in with a broad, balanced and coherent curriculum.
2.3 The SACRE may:
a) require its Local Authority to review the agreed syllabus and, if after discussion a vote is taken on this matter, the Local Authority Group on SACRE is not entitled to cast a vote. A majority decision by thethree other Groups is sufficient;
b) decide to advise the Local Authority on matters related to its functions. Equally, the Local Authority may decide to refer matters to SACRE;
c) co-opt Members who are notMembers of any of the four Groups– such Co-opted members may provide educational expertise, young people’s views or religious andnon-religious views that reflect a diverse multi-cultural society; and
d) consider complaints about the provision and delivery of RE or collective worship referred to it by the Local Authority, provided that the appropriate complaints procedure within a school has been used in the first instance
3.1 The aims of the North Yorkshire SACRE are:
a) to promote a high quality agreed syllabus;
b) to help teachers and schools raise standards in RE teaching;
c) to help schools improve the quality of collective worship; and
d) contribute towards social cohesion, particularly in respect of improving religious and racial harmony within the community.
4.1 SACRE Members are expected to attend all meetings, where possible, and send apologies to the Clerk when they are unable to attend.
4.2 ASACRE Member who fails toattend three consecutive meetings will, subject to further clarification for the reasons for non-attendance, be asked to stand down and an alternative representative will be sought.
4.3 Substitutions are not permitted.
5.1 The composition of the SACRE is defined by law. Itis made up of four Groups.
5.2 Each Local Authority must establish a permanent body called a SACRE. It must appoint representatives to each of four Groups. At the beginning of each school year, each Group should elect a Chair to report its decisions to SACRE.
5.3 Membership is in accordance with Sections 390 and 392 of the 1996 Education Act. It is determined by the Local Authority and is in accordance with, and represents proportionately, the major denominations and faith groups in North Yorkshire. Members are identified in collaboration with the organisations and communities represented.
5.4 The Groups and their membership are set out below:
Group A: Faith Representatives
Christian denominations and such other religions and religious denominations as, in the authority’s opinion, will appropriately reflect the principal religious traditions in the area.
Representatives from The Baptist Church, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, The Methodist Church, Islam, The Roman Catholic Church , The Salvation Army, Sikhism, The Society of Friends, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, The Humanist Association
Membership is in accordance with Sections 390 and 392 of the 1996 Education Act. It is determined by the Local Authority and is in accordance with, and represents proportionately, the major denominations and faith groups in North Yorkshire. Members are identified in collaboration with the organisations and communities represented.
Group B: Church of England
Two representatives nominated by each of the Diocese of York andthe Diocese of Leeds.
Group C: Teacher Associations
Five teachers of religious education representing teacher associations. Preferably, this should include a Primary, Secondary, Special School, Academy, and Independent School representative.
Teacher associations recognised by North Yorkshire Council are:
· Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)
· National Association of Head Teachers (including Heads and Deputies) (NAHT)
· National Association of School Teachers & Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT)
· National Education Union (NEU)
· VOICE
Group D: The Local Authority
Five elected Members of North Yorkshire Council, as appointed by North Yorkshire Council.
Co-opted Members
Co-opted Membership of the North Yorkshire SACRE shall individually represent academic expertise in religious education. The representative of the Corporate Director for Children and Young People’s Service would initially make the approach, following discussion with the Chair, Vice-Chair and Professional Religious Education Adviser.
6.1 All SACRE Members agree to follow the SACRE Code of Conduct, which emphasises that the prime focus of SACRE is to deliver its core aims.
6.2 Members are appointed by the Local Authority to SACRE for a period offour years, after which they will be reappointed or replaced. With this term of office, a Member who wishes to resign before the end of their four year term should do so in writing to the Clerk. The maximum time that a Member would normally sit on SACRE is eight years (two terms).
6.3 Members are free to resign at any point. Resignations should be made to the Clerk to SACRE and the representing body should be informed, so they can nominate a new representative to the Local Authority.
6.4 Co-opted Members have the same term of office as full Members. Co-opted Members are not entitled to vote.
6.5 If a SACRE Member does not adhere to the Code of Conduct, the Local Authority has a right to remove theSACRE Member.
7.1. Groups A and B
a) Should present a positive image of their religion, so that members of the other Groups are disabused of any religious stereotypes of each denomination or religion. They must also make clear any grounds on which they may differ from each other, but also the respect they have for each other’s viewpoints – since such convictions and mutual understanding lie at the heart of effective classroom RE.
b) Can create opportunities within SACRE meetings toraise awareness ofissues of sensitivity in the teaching of RE to the children of their faith community.
c) Should appreciate the difficulties schools are facing in the area, support their best endeavours, and act, where necessary, as a link between schools and the faith communities.
7.2 Group C
a) Should have a real and positive interest in RE in primary, secondary, or special schools.
b) Should ensure that the needs of schools and teachers are considered by the SACRE in their discussions.
c) Should provide the SACRE with information about the context in which RE is taught in the schools in the Local Authority.
d) Should ensure that the associations they represent are informed about the work of the SACRE.
e) Create opportunities for other teachers to learn more about the work of the SACRE andgive them the opportunity to have their views expressed at SACRE meetings.
f) Consult other teachers on matters of particular importance to the work of the
SACRE.
7.3 Group D
a) Can bring to the meeting the breadth of educational issues and concerns which elected Members are wrestling with and place RE’s rolewithin it.
b) Can be the supporters of RE within the various Committees and structures of theLocal Authority.
c) Can give political support to enable locally determined RE to flourish within eachLocal Authority - financial support, advisory support, etc.
d) Can appreciate the issues raised by a multi-faith, multi-cultural society for the education of children in RE and reflect these issues in the Schools Forum, Scrutiny Committee, etc., as a means ofsupporting RE.
e) Can bring the ‘public’ dimension to the debate about RE provision and support.
8.1 There are no requirements for SACRE to meet for a certain number of times, but meetings are usually held four times a year. More meetings may be scheduled if the business is considered to be urgent, or requires more discussion time than is possible in the regular meetings.
8.3 Meetings are arranged by the Clerk toSACRE. The dates for SACRE meetings are usually decided for thefollowing year atthe summer SACRE meeting.
8.4 The papers will be published on the North Yorkshire Council website five clear working days before the meeting and, shortly following that, a link to the papers will be emailed to Members.
8.5 The Agendas for themeetings are agreed bythe Chair and Professional RE Adviser to SACRE at Agenda setting meetings, which are held about one month prior to each SACRE meeting. These comprise the Chair, Vice-Chair, Professional RE Adviser, representatives from Children and Young People’s Service and Legal and Democratic Services, including the Clerk.
8.6 Other SACRE Members may request items tobe added to the Agenda. This will be at the discretion of the Chair. Items should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
8.7 To enable decisions to be made, the meeting must be quorate, with representatives from all four Groups present. Attendance at meetings is therefore very important.
8.8 The proceedings of SACRE are not invalidated on the grounds of a vacancy in the Group membership.
8.9 Meetings are open to the public but there may be some matters which will beconsidered in private. During such situations, members of the public will be asked to leave the meeting at this point. The circumstances under which we can consider matters inprivate are tightly controlled by law. The public must be excluded where it is likely that confidential information would be disclosed. Confidential information is defined as information given to the Council by a Government Department on terms which forbid its public disclosure or information or which cannot be disclosed by Court Order. Where exempt information is likely to be disclosed, there is the discretion to exclude the public. The categories of exempt information are:-
a) Information relating to any individual.
b) Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.
c) Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).
d) Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under, the authority.
e) Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.
f) Information which reveals that the authority proposes – (a) to give under any enactment a notice under or by virtue of which requirements are imposed on a person; or (b) to make an order or direction under any enactment.
g) Information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation, or prosecution of crime.
8.10 SACRE welcomes observers to the meetings, but observers are not entitled to speak at meetings, unless a request is made to the Clerk to SACRE, prior to the meeting. The Clerk’s details are published on the agenda for each meeting, and are also available on the North Yorkshire Council website.
8.11 The Chair has discretion to allow members of the public to speak and participate in the meeting where they feel this will help progress a particular item or matter.
8.12 Agendas and Minutes of SACRE meetings are published on the North Yorkshire Council website. The draft Minutes will be made available to Members within two weeks of the meeting.
9.1 For business generally, the SACRE aims to operate on a basis of consensus and, therefore, a formal vote will rarely be necessary.
9.2 On any question to be decided by the SACRE, its constituent Groups each have a single vote, but Co-opted Members do not have a vote. For any voting to take place, SACRE must be quorate, with representatives from all four Groups present at the meeting.
9.3 Decisions within an individual Group do not require unanimity. EachGroup must regulate its own proceedings, including provision for resolving deadlock. If there is atied vote of the four Groups (i.e. two Groups in favour and two against), members will be asked to reconsider, following further discussion. Only SACRE Members present at the meeting are eligible to vote.
9.4 In the event of the matter still being deadlocked, the Chair shall not have a casting vote and the matter will be declared a non-decision vote.
10.1 One month prior to the Autumn Term SACRE meeting, the Clerk will ask for nominations for Chair and Vice-Chair. Nominations should be received by the Clerk viaemail two weeks before the SACRE meeting. Candidates will be requested to produce a summary of the skills and experience they would bring to the role, which will becirculated prior to the meeting.
10.2 At the SACRE meeting, nominees will be invited to outline their reasons for wanting to take on the role of Chair. Members of Groups A, B, C, and D shall vote individually for the election of a Chair. Members must be present at the meeting to cast a vote. The same procedure will be carried out for the positionof Vice-Chair. The Chair and Vice-Chair should be representatives from differentGroups, where possible. The maximum term of office for a Chair and Vice-Chair is 4 years in total.
10.3 To be nominated for Chair, the nominee must have been a member of SACRE for atleast one year andattended at leastthree meetings.
11.1 The Local Authority must adequately fund SACRE to enable it to carry out its statutory duties and to support high quality RE and collective worship in schools.
11.2 The Democratic Services role is one of administrative support for meetings; support for the Members and Chair and Vice-Chair; acting as a single point of contact; and governance advice and guidance.
11.3 The Local Authority can make the decision on how the Chair of SACRE may be appointed or it may allow the SACRE to choose the Chair from amongst their Members. In North Yorkshire, the latter approach is taken.
11.4 This SACRE is serviced by a Professional Religious Education Adviserfrom North Yorkshire’s School Improvement Service, who:
a) may advise the SACRE and Local Authority;
b) ensure that the decisions ofthe SACRE are moved forward;
c) oversees the monitoring of RE and collective worship inschools;
d) oversees the development of the agreed syllabus and its implementation;
e) offers support and advice to teachers and schools though training/consultancy;
f) writes the SACRE Annual Report, with the support ofthe Chair and Clerk.
12.1 Councillors. All elected Councillors and voting Co-opted Members on Council Committees must comply with the Code of Conduct for Members when they go about their official duties. The Code states that Councillors must behave in certain ways, such as not treating others with disrespect. It also sets out the rules about registering and declaring interests. Further information on this and how to make a complaint are on the Council website.
12.2 SACRE Members who are not Councillors. The Corporate Complaints Procedure has two stages. In the first instance you should direct your complaint to the service you want to complain about. Staff will work to ensure complaints are responded to quickly and resolved at this stage wherever possible.
12.3 If you are not satisfied with the response you have received you can contact us to escalate your complaint through the two stages. However, if we feel that your complaint has been considered fully at an early stage and it would not be of benefit to either party to pursue internally, we will instead refer you to the Local Government Ombudsman.
12.4 Where concerns are raised by one member of SACRE regarding another Member, this will be referred to the Chair in the first instance, who will liaise with the Local Authority as to the most appropriate response.
13.1 SACRE is required to publish an Annual Report in the Spring Term. The draft report is prepared by the Professional Religious Education Adviser toSACRE, Chair and Clerk to SACRE and will be shared with SACRE Members for comment, before final approval.
13.2 The final report is shared with SACRE Members, all schools, the School Improvement Service and Council Members, as well as being sent to the Department for Education and NASACRE.
13.3 It will also be presented to the appropriate Council Scrutiny Committee.
14.1 An ASC is convened in order to produce an agreed syllabus for RE. It is a separate legal entity from a SACRE.
14.2 Although a review of the locally agreed syllabus is required within five years of the last review, if the majority of the Groups on SACRE (other than Group D) ask the Local Authority in writing to reconsider its agreed syllabus it must convene a Conference for that purpose.
14.3 An ASC is a body appointed by the Local Authority according to the same structure as SACRE but the membership of one does not automatically mean membership of the other. The ASC may have wholly different membership to SACRE; a shared membership or be coterminous with SACRE. Co-opted Members of SACRE cannot be on the ASC as an ASC does not have the option to co-opt.
14.4 Voting is also different in that all Committees (not Groups as in SACRE) have to vote for a syllabus before it can be adopted. This must be unanimous.
14.5 The Chair of the ASC can be appointed by the Local Authority or theLocal Authority may allow the ASC tochoose its own Chair.
14.6 The Local Authority’s responsibility to convene the ASC implies a duty to provide funds for its work.
15.1 Advice and guidance is disseminated to schools by the Local Authority SACRE Officers.
15.2 The procedure if a school requests a determination is governed by legislation.
16.1 The Constitution and Terms of Reference may be amended at any time at the discretion of the Local Authority, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services and such other persons as they think fit.
16.2 Legally, it is the responsibility of the Local Authority to write the Constitution but it requires approval of SACRE before it is changed.