HEXHAM AND NEWCASTLE CATHOLIC PARTNERSHIP

APPOINTMENT OF A PARTNERSHIP DIRECTOR

Required for September 2016 or earlier
This is a permanent post and the possibility of a secondment will be considered
Leadership range L13-17
The Partnership is a family of 12 Catholic Secondary Schools within the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.
The Partnership exists to enable school communities to work collaboratively with the aim of strengthening, promoting
and celebrating the distinctive Catholic nature/ethos of our schools.
This is an exciting opportunity to work in a senior role for our successful and vibrant Catholic Partnership. We need a
creative and inspirational person who:

Has a clear vision of Catholic education and who will support the Partnership ethos.
Is a strategic thinker with flair and dynamism who will develop the staff and students in the Partnership schools.
Has the vision and determination to make a difference, focusing on creativity, raising standards and leading the
Partnership forward.
Has proven leadership, management and interpersonal skills.

The Partnership will offer:

Office facilities in a Partnership school

Administrative support and ICT provision
An appropriate CPD programme
A supportive Partnership Board.
This post is well suited to a person seeking promotion to a Senior Leadership role or someone who is currently in a
leadership role seeking a wider professional experience in Catholic education.
The successful applicant will need to have the use of a car for independent travel.
Application forms or further details are available from Mrs S Thompson, Administrator, Hexham & Newcastle Catholic
Partnership, The Headlands, Darlington, DL3 8RW sthompson@catholicpartnership.org
For an informal discussion on the role of the post, please contact Sara Crawshaw scrawshaw@carmel.org.uk
Closing date for completed applications is Tuesday 5th January 2016
Interviews will be held on Tuesday 19th January 2016
The Catholic Partnership is committed to safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks will be
undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. The post is subject to an Enhanced Criminal Records
Bureau Disclosure.

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HEXHAM AND NEWCASTLE CATHOLIC PARTNERSHIP

CATHOLIC PARTNERSHIP VISION STATEMENT

The Partnership exists to enable school communities to work collaboratively with the aim
of strengthening, promoting and celebrating the distinctive Catholic nature/ethos of our
schools.
The Partnership will strive to fulfil its mission by working together to :
1.

Provide support, training and resources for the development of our Catholic/Christian ethos;

2.

Live out the Gospel message by providing opportunities for students and staff to engage in
work to assist those who are marginalised and impoverished;

3.

Enable Partnership schools to contribute to promoting social cohesion;

4.

Provide opportunities for our students to participate in shared liturgies and celebratory
events;

5.

Continue to develop a professional development programme which responds to the needs of

the Partnership and individual schools;

6.

Articulate a shared response with respect to regional, national and international issues.

Aims
Raising achievement and promoting Catholic education through partnership.
We are each made in the image of God. We aim to enhance the motivation, self-confidence
and performance of young people, 11-19 and those who have care of them in our schools.
We are each members of a community based on love and care. Through working in
partnership we aim to increase levels of awareness, skills and qualifications and support
progression through education, training and into work.
Staff and students are recognised as individuals. We aim to promote the achievements and
develop the talents of each individual through equality of opportunity in education, training
and employment.
Our students have a right to the highest quality of educational provision available. Through
working in Partnership we aim to promote excellence in educational endeavour.

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Aspirations
The Catholic Partnership aspires to:
Enrich the education of all students in an atmosphere of Christian love.
Promote professional and curriculum development.
Enhance the quality of teaching and learning with member schools.
Strengthen links within the partnership and to work effectively with other Diocesan Schools
and the wider community.
Work closely with the Diocese.
Provide specific CPD as a support to national, regional and LA initiatives.
Objectives
The underlying objectives of the Partnership are contained in the agreed Vision Statement:
The purpose of the proposed Partnership is to promote professional and curriculum development,
thereby enhance the quality of teaching and learning in the schools involved.
To build upon existing Partnership collaboration to enrich the education of all of our students in an
atmosphere of Christian love to the benefit of Catholic education in the Hexham and Newcastle
Catholic Partnership.
The schools share a common Catholic ethos. This ethos runs through every aspect of the life of
the school such that the academic cannot be separated from the pastoral and spiritual.

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HEXHAM AND NEWCASTLE CATHOLIC PARTNERSHIP

PERSON SPECIFICATION FOR THE
DIRECTOR OF HEXHAM AND NEWCASTLE CATHOLIC PARTNERSHIP
Listed below are the attributes which the Board of Head teachers have specified for the post of Partnership
Director and how applicants/candidates will be expected to demonstrate that they satisfy the requirements
where A is in the Application Form and any supporting statement; I is in Interview (which may include any
task or presentation required of interviewees); and R the Referees.
Essentia
l

Desirabl
e

A - Application
I interview
R
references

X
X
X

A
A
A

X
X

AR
A

ARI

AI

X
X
X
X
X

AIR
AI
AIR
AI
AIR

Training and qualifications

Qualified Teacher status
Degree
Evidence of recent professional development/academic study
Faith commitment
Practising Catholic
Sound understanding of the distinctive nature of Catholic education
Experience of teaching and school leadership or equivalent
Experience of strategic, inclusive and creative management in a secondary
school
Experience of school self-evaluation and performance management
processes and their impact on raising standards
Professional knowledge and understanding applicants should be able
to demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of the following:
Pupils educational development
Curriculum and assessment and use of ICT
Effective teaching and learning strategies
Experience of leading staff training/CPD
School evaluation and monitoring
Personal skills and abilities applicants should be able to provide
evidence that they have the necessary personal skills and abilities required
by the post:
Communication and interpersonal skills
Adaptability to change and new ideas
Emotional resilience
Confidence to motivate others
Ability to relate to young people, colleagues and external partners
Team leader and self motivated
Innovative and creative in approach to raising achievement
Other requirements
Application forms should be completed in full
Letters should be clear and concise no more than 1300 words or 2 sides
of A4
Letter should address the criteria identified in the person specification
Capacity for independent travel
Ability to work flexibly to meet the demands of the job
Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people
Confidential references and reports
Confirming professional and personal knowledge, skills and abilities
referred to above
Positive recommendation
Priest Reference

X
X
X
X
X
X
X

AIR
AIR
IR
IR
AIR
AIR
I

X
X

A
A

X
X
X
X

A
A
I
AIR

X
X

R
R

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HEXHAM AND NEWCASTLE CATHOLIC PARTNERSHIP

JOB DESCRIPTION
ROLE OF DIRECTOR
Purpose - To promote and develop Partnership activities in all aspects, particularly with regard to the Catholic ethos of
the Partnership.
Main Duties and Responsibilities

To fulfil all the requirements and duties as set out by the Partnership board
To be familiar with, aspire to and evaluate personal performance against the appropriate standards
To partake in the arrangements for Performance Management.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

To be responsible to the Catholic Partnership Board for the coordination of the Catholic Partnership.
To support the promotion of the Catholic ethos, mission and core purpose of the Partnership.
To facilitate direct communications between schools, including school coordinators, senior managers,
curriculum and pastoral leaders, new staff, support and teaching staff and students.
To facilitate communications between the Partnership and local/national bodies.
To serve and attend Board, Coordinators meetings and residentials for strategic planning purposes, as
required.
To lead on the annual Partnership Action planning process.
To manage the budget of the Partnership in liaison with the appointed Partnership Finance Officer.
To lead the Partnership on a day to day basis and to administer the Partnership office.
To promote the Partnership, with the wider community, by circulating bulletins and newsletters; and by
disseminating information on development meetings, initiatives and decisions.
To construct and deliver a Partnership development plan.
To create opportunities for sharing of policies and good practice between schools.
To coordinate and evaluate pupil events and Partnership activities.
To oversee the continued development of the Partnership website.
To help monitor the cost effectiveness of the Partnership.
To manage and promote other Partnership activities as they arise.
To facilitate links with other partnerships and networks.
To evaluate Partnership activities.
Maintain appropriate reporting on grants and bids.

These duties are neither inclusive nor exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake other duties and
responsibilities, which the Partnership Board may determine.
The post of the Partnership Director is full-time.
The Director will be performance managed by the Chair of the Partnership Board, in line with all statutory
requirements.
The Director will be required to manage their workload independently as some of the activities that the Partnership are
involved with might require evening or weekend work.

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BACKGROUND
The Catholic Partnership is made up of 12 Catholic Secondary Schools in the Diocese of
Hexham and Newcastle. The schools are:
Carmel College, Darlington
Our Lady and St Bede Catholic Academy, Stockton
St Aidans Catholic Academy, Sunderland
St Anthonys Girls Catholic Academy, Sunderland
St Bedes Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Lanchester
St Bedes Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College, Peterlee
St Johns School and Sixth Form College - A Catholic Academy, Bishop Auckland
St Josephs Catholic Academy, Hebburn
St Leonards Catholic School, Durham
St Michaels Catholic Academy, Billingham
St Thomas More RC Academy, North Shields
The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, Hartlepool
The Catholic Partnerships Schools work together on activities for staff and students to enhance
the education we are able to offer to our students. The Partnership is governed by the Partnership
Board, which is composed of Headteachers and a school based Partnership Coordinator. We are
a company limited by guarantee with charitable status.
The Board meets once a term under a rotating Chairperson elected for a two year period. In each
school, there is a named coordinator who meets with the Director each half term to discuss the
development of partnership activities.
For more information about the Partnership, you may look at the Partnership website
www.hncps.co.uk
For more information about our Diocese, you may look at the following website
www.rcdhn.org.uk
If you wish to discuss the post in more detail, please contact Sara Crawshaw 0790 4246299
scrawshaw@carmel.org.uk
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