Chief Executive Officer, Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust
We are seeking to appoint an inspiring Catholic CEO who can continue our journey, bringing our Catholic Education Trust’s vision and values to life with clear, consistent, collaborative, and creative energy.
Location: Newcastle-upon-Tyne
The Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust (BBCET) has been on an inspiring journey of growth and discovery over the past six years. Together, we have built a strong sense of trust across our 39 schools through collaboration, dynamic leadership, and a core mission rooted in our Catholic faith and serving our pupils by providing an excellent, holistic education.
Our schools operate with autonomy and have distinct individual identities; however, as the Trust has matured, we are well on our way to building a single faculty of education underpinned by our shared values and mission. These values are not something we have adopted for effect but are lived out daily across BBCET.
Through true collaboration and a common purpose, we have developed a belief that we are “greater than the sum of our parts.” This commitment is reflected in the variety of ways we invest in our people, offering leadership development programmes, secondment opportunities, and ways for staff to support each other through the sharing of best practice and contributing to the development of curriculum and operational frameworks. We also provide a staff well‑being hub to ensure all colleagues are supported within this demanding profession.
Local governing bodies play a crucial role in supporting and directing our Trust schools and we take great pride in the strong governance relationships we have built since the beginning of our Trust journey.
BBCET is one of four Catholic Academy Trusts within the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle and we are committed to ensuring that our education is firmly rooted in the teachings of Christ. We work closely with the Bishop and the Diocesan Education Department and we maintain strong, collaborative relationships with the other Trusts across the Diocese.
About the role
Following the retirement of our highly respected CEO, Anita Bath OBE, an exciting opportunity has arisen to appoint a new CEO who will build on the strong foundations already established by the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust (BBCET).
We are seeking a passionate, highly motivated and exceptional candidate to lead the next phase of Catholic education within our Trust.
The successful candidate will sustain, deepen and extend the Trust’s current work by guiding strategy, strengthening impact and ensuring consistency as BBCET moves into its next phase of development. This will be achieved through collaborative working, informed reflection from both within and beyond the Trust and a commitment to continually refining personal leadership practice over time.
You will oversee the senior executive team, modelling and promoting a solution‑focused culture of continuous improvement. You will inspire and lead Trust staff with empathy, always seeking to unlock and nurture the potential of individuals across the organisation.
Key responsibilities will include overseeing school improvement, financial stewardship and ensuring compliance with all regulatory frameworks, particularly in relation to health and safety and safeguarding.
You will take the strategic lead in shaping complex and evolving areas such as teaching and learning, curriculum development, government initiatives and innovation, with the aim of maximising outcomes for all pupils across the Trust. Your expertise will also guide strategic budget planning, ensuring best value and the effective allocation of resources.
Working within a complex and evolving educational landscape, you will further develop existing partnerships and continue to position the Trust as a confident, outward‑facing organisation. Building and strengthening relationships with our Diocese, other Diocesan Trusts, the Department for Education and Local Authorities will be a vital aspect of the role.
Your strong moral compass, resilience and adaptability will be essential as you champion equality of opportunity and place the welfare of our pupils at the heart of all decision‑making. The ability to communicate the Trust’s strategy, values and mission in a passionate and deeply authentic way will be critical to the continued success of BBCET.
Who we are looking for
Catholic Social Teaching underpins our work, informing both our strategic direction and the daily experience of pupils, staff, governors and all stakeholders within our schools. It is therefore imperative that the new CEO can articulate their faith in a way that directs and upholds the Catholic life and mission of the Trust, ensuring alignment with the ethos of the Diocese.
We are seeking a leader who is honest, authentic, consistent and humble — and who embodies a resilient yet self‑reflective leadership style that is open to challenge and redirection where necessary. The CEO will continue to promote the aligned autonomy that we have cultivated across our Trust schools.
It has taken extensive time to develop this model and it relies heavily on strong communication, mutual trust and understanding, together with honest and open transparency — one that we firmly believe is far stronger and deeper than top‑down authoritative approaches. We require a CEO with excellent leadership and communication skills to preserve and strengthen this approach going forward.
You will have a detailed understanding of the current and evolving demographic needs of all our schools, helping to shape strategy and lead its communication to all stakeholders.
You will have a strong track record of delivering improved outcomes for schools. This includes being confident with the new inspection framework and capable of developing strategies to support schools where improvement is needed. You will be experienced in addressing underperformance across all areas of the Trust, particularly in relation to school improvement and will hold a PGCE or Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
You will have a comprehensive understanding of a robust financial Trust model, ensuring we have the in‑house capacity to remain viable and prosper. We require a leader who can navigate the financial complexities of the education system and our Trust and who possesses the resolve and sophistication to see challenging decisions through to completion.
You will also have a strong understanding of school improvement and how to deliver it effectively across the Trust to maximise opportunities for all pupils.
Our new CEO will be adaptable to the evolving needs of the Trust, a strategic listener who can refine and redirect strategy as required within a constantly changing educational landscape.
You will demonstrate a proven leadership style, with experience of managing large teams and will show that your approach aligns with the core values of the Trust.
Why lead our Trust?
A strong, values‑driven culture, grounded in Catholic values, with inclusion, integrity and service at its core.
A high‑performing organisation across the North East of England, comprising 39 schools and ranked as the 15th‑largest Trust in the UK.
Significant scale and strategic impact, serving more than 13,000 pupils and supported by a workforce of over 1,900 colleagues.
Strategic leadership development, supporting leadership and the long‑term direction of the Trust.
A commitment to well‑being, promoting balance, support and long‑term effectiveness, through:
* Access to a 24/7 GP service
* Confidential counselling and emotional well‑being support
* A culture that promotes balance, care and long‑term effectiveness for leaders and colleagues alike
A comprehensive suite of benefits, including:
* A Cycle to Work Scheme through the Green Commute Initiative, enabling colleagues to hire bicycles and equipment via salary sacrifice over 12 or 24 months.
* Access to the NHS Fleet Solutions Car Lease Scheme through salary sacrifice.
* A Corporate Metro Season Ticket Scheme, enabling colleagues to make savings on public transport by spreading the cost of discounted annual tickets through salary deductions.
* Free will‑writing services, allowing colleagues to create or update a will at no cost.
Trust‑wide benefits and partnerships, including access to exclusive discounts with local and regional organisations.
Safeguarding Statement
Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
In accordance with the safeguarding vulnerable groups’ regime [2006] & the relevant Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) DfE guidance, any offer of employment made will be conditional upon the results of checks from the Disclosure & Barring Service (“the DBS”) and Teacher Services (regarding teacher prohibition/disqualification from working with children and young people).
School roles give privileged access to vulnerable groups, therefore, we require all applicants attending interview to disclose all spent convictions and cautions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order 1975 unless it is a “protected” conviction/caution under the amendments made to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order 1975 (in 2013) and, therefore, not subject to disclosure.
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