Skip to main content
Tes home
SearchBack to search
Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer

Plymouth CAST

Plymouth

  • Expired
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Start date:
September 2020
Apply by:
16 March 2020

Job overview

Plymouth CAST, one of the largest Catholic Multi Academy Trusts in the country, is seeking to appoint a dynamic and strategic Chief Executive.

Plymouth CAST is a Multi-Academy Trust comprising thirty five schools plus a nursery situated within the Catholic Diocese of Plymouth with whom there is a close working relationship. The Trust is seeking to appoint an outstanding Chief Executive who will continue to drive performance improvement and who will work with the Board to set and implement the strategic direction for the next five years.

As Chief Executive Officer of one of the largest MATs in the country, you will have a very high profile with the educational establishment. You will need to develop excellent relationships with the Regional Schools Commissioner, the Education Funding & Skills Agency and the local authorities. You will also have a high profile in the faith life of the MAT and will work closely with the Diocesan Schools Commissioner to embed the MAT vision and mission in all schools.

You will be heading an established, dedicated and supportive team and will have the opportunity to develop the way in which the MAT governs, supports and leads its schools to positively impact the education and development of 7,300 pupils in a caring community over seven local authorities.

You will use your exceptional interpersonal skills to support and challenge the contribution every school makes to ensure our staff provide outstanding educational and spiritual guidance for all the children and adults in our schools. With the support of the whole CAST team you will ensure that:

• The organisation’s resources are managed effectively; 

• Directors and Diocesan authorities are appropriately informed; 

• The organisation has appropriate arrangements for sound governance;

 • All ecclesial and statutory responsibilities are met.

We are looking for a dynamic and strategic CEO who shares our values and who can lead the journey to become recognised as a leading MAT nationally.

Essential requirements are:

• A practising Catholic; 

• Educated to degree level, with evidence of continuing professional development; 

• Evidence of effective strategic leadership; 

• Have extensive knowledge of education in the UK; 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills – an attentive listener and team builder; 

• A full driving licence and use of a car.

Attached documents

About Plymouth CAST

School image 1
School image 2
School image 3
School image 4
School image 5
School image 6
School image 7
  • Plymouth CAST
  • Edmund Rice Building, St, Boniface College, 21 Boniface, Lane, Manadon Park, Crownhill, Plymouth
  • Devon
  • PL5 3AG
  • United Kingdom
+44 1752 686710

View on Google Maps

Visit employer website

Plymouth CAST is a trust set up by the Catholic Diocese of Plymouth to support and develop its schools. Plymouth CAST is a genuine 'multi academy trust’ in that the constituent schools are all part of a single company with a central Board of Directors, rather than each being an academy company in its own right. The Diocese of Plymouth covers the traditional counties of Cornwall, Devon and Dorset and therefore also includes the newer unitary authorities of Plymouth, Torbay, Poole & Bournemouth. Altogether there are 35 schools within the Trust spread from Penzance in the West to Bournemouth in the East. Together CAST employs 1300 staff and provides for 7000 pupils. As with all academies, Plymouth CAST is a company limited by guarantee and an exempt charity.

Purpose

The formation of CAST does not represent a change in direction for the schools. As Catholic schools, our fundamental mission has always derived from the wider mission of the Catholic Church and the particular emphases of the diocesan Bishop. However, it was decided that changing our legal structure from multiple, autonomous Voluntary Aided schools into a single corporate legal entity would enhance our capacity to fulfil our shared mission. This is enabled both by the structures of CAST (see below) and by the new 'cultural' expectations on all concerned. These include a shared responsibility for standards across all the schools and increased levels of transparency, particularly among head teachers, about strengths and weaknesses. Alongside this is an increased emphasis on early identification of underperformance in all aspects of a school's provision (Catholic life, educational standards, pupil and staff well-being, financial stability, school environment and community relations) and focused strategies to respond quickly and effectively.

Structure

Consistent with the purpose summarised above, the most important elements within CAST's structure are the schools themselves. The 35 schools are each has a local governing body with a delegated budget and delegated powers to allow it to operate as the local 'steward' of overall mission. The Board of Directors does not seek to manage the individual schools but does carry the overall responsibilities and liabilities for the network as a whole. On the surface, the day to day operation of the schools has not changed since becoming part of CAST and parents experience a seamless transition, as do their children.
 

CAST operates within three local 'Area Councils'. The schools table identifies their Areas and each has either 11 or 12 schools. Each Area has a dedicated 'Area Adviser' whose role is manifold but includes:

  • ensuring that the Board of Directors is fully aware of any school performance issues;
  • working with the head teachers and governing bodies of each of their Area schools to ensure that they have an up to date and accurate picture of all aspects of their school's strengths and weaknesses;
  • working with the relevant personnel from each school to identify effective strategic responses to their development needs;
  • brokering school-to-school and external support for the improvement strategies that have been formulated.

Whilst local governing bodies have delegated authority from the Board of Directors (much the same as that enjoyed by Voluntary Aided school governing bodies) Plymouth CAST also has an agreed Intervention Protocol which provides the basis for the Board of Directors to intervene directly in any school where the internal resources are not being successful in securing required improvements within an acceptable time scale.
 

Please note that you are wholly responsible for fact checking in respect of the information provided by schools. Please also check for the latest visa and work permit requirements that may apply. Tes is not responsible for the content of advertisements or the policies adopted by advertising schools. Tes asks that all schools follow Tes' Fair Recruitment Policy.