Our Goverance Structure

Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust is structured in accordance with its Articles of Association.

There are three levels of governance within the Trust: The Members, The Trust Board of Directors, and the Governors of the Local Governing Committees, who oversee the governance in each of our Trust schools.

We have seven Members who determine the governance structure of the Trust. They provide an oversight and also challenge our Directors to ensure the charitable objectives of the Trust are being fulfilled. Members approve the Articles of Association and have the power to remove and appoint Directors with the right skills, to ensure the Trust is run in accordance with its aims and objectives. Members are independent of the Directors, to provide challenge and scrutiny to the Board. They include representatives from the Diocese of Newcastle and Hexham:

Title Salutation First Name Last Name
Director of Education Mrs Catherine Craig
Vicar General for the North of the Diocese Reverend Father Jeffrey Dodds
Vicar General for the South of the Diocese Reverend Father Mark Millward
Episcopal Vicar for Education Canon Simon Lerche
Lead Education Trustee/Chair of the Diocesan Education Committee Mr Michael Shorten
Chief Operating Officer/Financial Secretary Mrs Fiona Standfield
Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle Bishop Stephen Wright

The ultimate responsibility for the running of our schools resides with the Directors of our Trust. They set the strategic direction for the Trust and are accountable to the Secretary of State for the performance of the schools within it. This is set out in a legal document known as the Funding Agreement. As charity Trustees, they must also ensure that they are complying with charity law requirements. 

Directors meet at least twice each term as a full Board. The Board has four committees established to undertake detailed and focused work in the areas of Audit and Risk, Finance, People and Standards. These committees meet at least once each term.  

Directors delegate aspects of governance and the day to day oversight of school leadership to Local Governing Committees as per our Scheme of Delegation, which summarises the key responsibilities of Directors and LGCs. 

In accordance with Academy Trust Handbook 2025, the Academy Trust is the legal entity with the Board having collective accountability and responsibility for the Academy Trust and assuring itself that there is compliance with regulatory, contractual, and statutory requirements.

The Academy Trust Board provides:

  • Strategic leadership of the Academy Trust: the Board defines the Trust vision for high quality and inclusive education in line with its charitable objects. It establishes and fosters the Trust’s culture and sets and champions the Trust strategy including determining what, if any, governance functions are delegated to the local tier.
  • Accountability and assurance: the Board has robust effective oversight of the operations and performance of the Academy Trust, including the provision of education, pupil welfare, overseeing and ensuring appropriate use of funding and effective financial performance and keeping their estate safe and well maintained.
  • Engagement: the Board has strategic oversight of relationships with stakeholders. The Board involves parents, schools and communities so that decision making is supported by meaningful engagement.

If you are interested in becoming a Governor at one of our schools you can find our more here or get more of an insight in to The Role of A School Governor. To find out which of our schools have governor vacancies please email governance@bccet.org.uk.

Useful Links

Admissions

All our schools publish their Admission Policies on their websites. In addition, the timetables for school admissions for 2025-26 are:

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Local Governing Committees

Please see details of the Local Governing Committees for each school within the Trust on the dedicated pages by clicking on the links below. Each page has a link to the attendance at LGC meetings for the previous academic year.

Name of School Name of Chair
English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, Sunderland Darren Hubbard
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary, Shotton Paul Francis
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, Peterlee Kevin Nicol
SS Peter & Paul’s Catholic Primary School, South Shields Vacant
St. Aidan’s Catholic Academy Dr. Catherine Emmerson
St. Aloysius’ Catholic Infant School Hebburn Wendy Woods
St. Aloysius’ Catholic Junior School Hebburn Wendy Woods
St. Anthony’s Girls Catholic Academy Maureen Galbraith
St. Bede’s Catholic Comprehensive School Tony McCourt
St. Bede’s Catholic Primary, Jarrow Paul McAlindon
St. Bede’s Catholic Primary South Shields Catherine Ellwood
St. Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School, New Seaham Kelly Lamond
St. Cuthbert’s RC Primary, Grindon Paul Cook
St. Godric’s Catholic Primary School Stephen Carter
St. Gregory’s RC Primary South Shields Michael Puech
St. James’ Catholic Primary School Hebburn Sharon Grewcock
St. John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Town End Farm Ian McDonagh
St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy Geraldine Kilgour
St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Blackhall Paul Francis
St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Jarrow Ailine Gibson
St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Millfield Lizzie Brooks & Tercy Thomas
St. Leonard’s Catholic Primary School, Silksworth Dr. Catherine Emmerson
St. Mary Magdalen RC Primary School, Seaham Kathryn Robinson
St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Jarrow Kevin Nicol
St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Sunderland Rachel Cameron
St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Wingate Stephen Carter
St. Matthew’s RC Primary School, Jarrow Helen Hall
St. Oswald’s Catholic Primary School, South Shields Patricia Alexander
St. Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Ryhope Tony McCourt
St. Wilfrid’s RC College Geraldine Kilgour