Issue - meetings

The Annual Report contains key actions and findings throughout the year. The Panel is asked to review the SACRE Annual Report for information.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson addressed the Panel. A copy of her statement will be attached as an online appendix to these minutes whilst a summary is set out below.

We flatter ourselves in this country about the degree of ‘tolerance’ towards and between the main faith communities and individual ‘people of faith’ but I think this is meaningless if it is based on ignorance and lack of understanding. Conversely, the Hebrew Scriptures Book of Psalms explain more about the Israeli attack on Gaza than any BBC news guru. Religious faith itself is meaningless if it is kept as a private hobby and does not address real life problems.

So where does this leave SACRE? We should thank the officer and the RE advisor for producing the Report, but it should be appreciated that more than any other council work I can think of, it is volunteers at the heart of it. We owe a special debt to Jane O’Hara, the chair, from the Bath Inter-Faith Group.

The SACRE report is not about ‘naming and shaming’, though we know from the recent OFSTED Report that about a third of schools in England do not observe their legal obligations. Rather, it is to identify and commend good practice, and to encourage schools with resources and advice, as well as training, for example on the Holocaust. 

It is still my ambition to produce material on ‘black religious experience’ and utilise Fairfield House appropriately. SACRE is about opening children’s eyes to a new world where they can develop their spirituality and ethics and co-operate in society, whether they believe or not.

Councillor May said that he would like to encourage all young people to have an understanding of the many religions and beliefs that are present in society today.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked if the increased budget of £15,000, agreed last year, was now the baseline figure that would be carried forward.

The Head of Education Commissioning replied that it was her understanding that this figure was now the baseline budget.

The Panel RESOLVED to note the report.