Chief Executive Officer
| Posting date: | 22 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £159,184 to £184,602 per year, pro rata |
| Additional salary information: | (L55 - L61) |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 21 June 2026 |
| Location: | Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Peridot Partners |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust via Peridot Partners |
Summary
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.
Applications close at 9 a.m. Monday 22nd June
Location: Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Salary: £159,184 - £184,602 (L55 - L61)
About the organisation
The Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust (BBCET) has experienced significant growth over the past six years, building a strong culture of trust across its 39 schools. With a shared mission grounded in Catholic faith and a commitment to delivering an excellent, holistic education, the Trust is progressing towards a unified “faculty of education” shaped by values that are genuinely lived across all settings.
Through a spirit of collaboration and the belief that it is “greater than the sum of its parts,” BBCET invests in its people through leadership development, secondment opportunities, shared best practice and supportive wellbeing initiatives. Strong governance remains central to this success, with local governing bodies playing a vital role, and the Trust maintaining close partnerships with the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, the Bishop and fellow Catholic Academy Trusts to ensure its work remains rooted in the teachings of Christ.
About the role
Following the retirement of our highly respected CEO, Anita Bath OBE, an exciting opportunity has arisen to lead the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust (BBCET) as it builds on its strong foundations and enters its next phase of development. We are seeking a passionate and exceptional leader to guide strategy, strengthen impact and ensure consistency across the Trust through a collaborative, reflective and continuously improving approach.
As CEO, you will oversee the senior executive team, fostering a solution-focused culture and inspiring staff with empathy to realise their full potential. You will hold responsibility for school improvement, financial stewardship and regulatory compliance, while leading strategically on teaching and learning, curriculum development and innovation to maximise outcomes for all pupils.
Working within a complex and evolving landscape, you will further develop key partnerships and represent the Trust as a confident, outward-facing organisation. Above all, you will bring integrity, resilience and authenticity, championing equality of opportunity and placing the welfare of pupils at the heart of all decision-making.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking an honest, authentic and humble leader who demonstrates a resilient, self-reflective approach and is open to challenge, while continuing to promote the culture of aligned autonomy established across our Trust schools. This model, built on strong communication, mutual trust and transparency, sits at the heart of our success and requires a CEO with excellent leadership and communication skills to sustain and strengthen it. You will bring a detailed understanding of the evolving needs of our schools and a strong track record of improving outcomes, alongside experience of inspection frameworks and supporting underperformance.
With a secure grasp of financial management within a Trust setting, you will navigate complexity with confidence and make informed, sometimes challenging decisions. You will also demonstrate a strategic, adaptable mindset, strong experience leading large teams, and a clear commitment to the Trust’s values, ensuring continued improvement and maximising opportunities for all pupils.
Peridot Partners and BBCET are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.
Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 22nd June.
For further information about the role and to register your interest, please visit the Peridot Partners page and contact our advising consultants: https://www.peridotpartners.co.uk/jobs/chief-executive-officer-bishop-bewick-catholic-education-trust/
Applications close at 9 a.m. Monday 22nd June
Location: Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Salary: £159,184 - £184,602 (L55 - L61)
About the organisation
The Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust (BBCET) has experienced significant growth over the past six years, building a strong culture of trust across its 39 schools. With a shared mission grounded in Catholic faith and a commitment to delivering an excellent, holistic education, the Trust is progressing towards a unified “faculty of education” shaped by values that are genuinely lived across all settings.
Through a spirit of collaboration and the belief that it is “greater than the sum of its parts,” BBCET invests in its people through leadership development, secondment opportunities, shared best practice and supportive wellbeing initiatives. Strong governance remains central to this success, with local governing bodies playing a vital role, and the Trust maintaining close partnerships with the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, the Bishop and fellow Catholic Academy Trusts to ensure its work remains rooted in the teachings of Christ.
About the role
Following the retirement of our highly respected CEO, Anita Bath OBE, an exciting opportunity has arisen to lead the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust (BBCET) as it builds on its strong foundations and enters its next phase of development. We are seeking a passionate and exceptional leader to guide strategy, strengthen impact and ensure consistency across the Trust through a collaborative, reflective and continuously improving approach.
As CEO, you will oversee the senior executive team, fostering a solution-focused culture and inspiring staff with empathy to realise their full potential. You will hold responsibility for school improvement, financial stewardship and regulatory compliance, while leading strategically on teaching and learning, curriculum development and innovation to maximise outcomes for all pupils.
Working within a complex and evolving landscape, you will further develop key partnerships and represent the Trust as a confident, outward-facing organisation. Above all, you will bring integrity, resilience and authenticity, championing equality of opportunity and placing the welfare of pupils at the heart of all decision-making.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking an honest, authentic and humble leader who demonstrates a resilient, self-reflective approach and is open to challenge, while continuing to promote the culture of aligned autonomy established across our Trust schools. This model, built on strong communication, mutual trust and transparency, sits at the heart of our success and requires a CEO with excellent leadership and communication skills to sustain and strengthen it. You will bring a detailed understanding of the evolving needs of our schools and a strong track record of improving outcomes, alongside experience of inspection frameworks and supporting underperformance.
With a secure grasp of financial management within a Trust setting, you will navigate complexity with confidence and make informed, sometimes challenging decisions. You will also demonstrate a strategic, adaptable mindset, strong experience leading large teams, and a clear commitment to the Trust’s values, ensuring continued improvement and maximising opportunities for all pupils.
Peridot Partners and BBCET are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.
Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 22nd June.
For further information about the role and to register your interest, please visit the Peridot Partners page and contact our advising consultants: https://www.peridotpartners.co.uk/jobs/chief-executive-officer-bishop-bewick-catholic-education-trust/
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