As Catholic schools across the North East continue to amalgamate in line with the Diocesan Academy Policy, the trust within which St. Joseph’s belongs to is changing it’s name to reflect a new sense of purpose.
As of 1 April 2020, Northern Saints Catholic Education Trust will be re-named as Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust.
This change reflects an ambition by the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle to establish a new, strong sense of identity for the four Multiple Academy Trusts (MATs) that are developing across our region.
As announced last year, the Diocesan Academy Policy is to develop structures to further preserve, protect and develop Catholic education through the growth of trusts.
Schools within the diocese continue to be consolidated within the four academy regions into a base trust per region. There are 156 schools in our Diocese educating over 54,000 children. 45 of these schools are currently academies. The implementation of this policy is underway and will happen in two stages:
Stage 1: consolidation of existing academies and trusts into one base trust
Stage 2: conversion of voluntary aided schools to academy status within their regional trust
In establishing these trust structures and having a single system in our Diocese, Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust aims to ensure that the children and young people in it’s schools will continue to receive the very best educational opportunities and life fulfilling experiences, within communities which have the teachings of Christ and his Church at the very centre.
A Catholic trust model where every school has its place will mean that no individual school will be left isolated or vulnerable in a rapidly changing environment. It will ensure that the uniqueness of each individual school is celebrated and the unique contribution of each is recognised and appreciated.
The Rt Rev James Chadwick, a former Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, established his name and reputation as a Professor of Theology at Ushaw College, where he ultimately became the President in the 1860s, training men for the priesthood. He devoted his life to helping others achieve the best for themselves underpinned by a deep faith.
