Message from Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust CEO:
Mr Mike Shorten, MA (Ed) NLE
The aim of Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust is to provide a practical and moral purpose to the furthering of education, giving strength and a collective responsibility for the educational welfare of pupils in our schools. Where pupils are the centre of all decision making and Christ is at the heart of our moral purpose.
The Trust shapes its collaboration through the fundamental principles of Catholic Social Teaching, where school leaders work together for the common good, where all pupils feel safe, welcomed and supported with every possible opportunity and where staff benefit from a collective approach that respects and values professional agency.
Mr Mike Shorten, MA (Ed) NLE
Our Ethos
Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust is a family of Catholic schools that exist to further the Church’s saving mission by educating her young people in accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ. In carrying out any functions on behalf of the Trust all governors, directors and members of the Trust recognise the centrality of the Bishop of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle and will carry out those functions and responsibilities in full communion with him and in accord with the mind of the Church. Accordingly, the functions of the Trust will be conducted in accordance with the following principles of subsidiarity, solidarity and support for the common good.
Subsidiarity
Wherever possible, decisions are to be taken at the level nearest to those affected by those decisions which is compatible with the principles of solidarity and support for the common good. Accordingly a Local Governing Body is established to conduct each Academy and to ensure its good governance. The Scheme of Delegation therefore aims to entrust to the Local Governing Body of each Academy those functions as listed. The Local Governing Body shall be the “Advisory Body” for their own Academy as required by the Master Funding Agreement.
Solidarity
The Strategic Board and the Local Governing Bodies share a particular commitment to the mutual support of all Academies for whom the Trust is responsible, especially those that are in need of assistance at any particular time. Accordingly, the Scheme of Delegation recognises the obligation to contribute to the common good of all Academies from the resources entrusted to them. The Strategic Board recognises and agrees to work in partnership with the representatives of each of the Academies, sharing experiences and working collaboratively for the benefit of all. The Strategic Board shall be responsible for ensuring that common action and collaboration is conducted at the correct level and that the balance between subsidiarity and solidarity serves the common good in the most appropriate way.
The Common Good
The Strategic Board and the Local Governing Bodies recognise their responsibility towards the common good, not just of the Academies for whom the Trust is responsible and the Diocesan family of schools, but of all of the families and communities in the areas served by the Trust. In light of the principle of common good, the Local Governing Body also acknowledges the desire and obligation on the Strategic Board to put in place measures to ensure that any Academy for whom the Academy Trust is responsible is supported when the need arises.
Ethos and Mission
As the Academies are Catholic schools, the Strategic Board and the Local Governing Bodies are accountable to the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle to ensure that each Academy is conducted as a Catholic school in accordance with the canon law and teachings of the Catholic Church so that at all times the Academy may serve as a witness to the Catholic faith.
External Partnership
The Directors serving from time to time on the Strategic Board are also accountable to external agencies including the Charity Commission and the Department for Education (including any successor bodies) for the quality of the education they provide and the overall governance of the Trust in line with its Articles of Association and Funding Agreements. The Directors are required to have systems in place through which they can assure themselves of quality, safety, good practice and good governance.
Levels of Responsibility
The scheme of delegation explains the ways in which the Strategic Board fulfils its responsibilities as the Board of Directors for the Trust in relation to the strategic governance of the Academies. It sets out the respective roles and responsibilities of the Strategic Board and the Local Governing Bodies of the Academies and the commitments to each other to ensure the success of all the Academies for whom the Academy Trust is responsible. In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of the Articles of Association and the scheme of delegation the provisions of the Articles of Association shall take precedence.