13 days remaining to apply

  • Job start date

    1 September 2025

  • Closing date

    6 May 2025 at 9am

  • Date listed

    11 April 2025

Job details

Job role

  • Headteacher

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Key stage

Key stage 3, Key stage 4

Working pattern

Full time: Full time, 32.5 hours a week

Contract type

Permanent

Pay scale

L26 to L32

What skills and experience we're looking for

The Governors of Cardinal Newman Catholic High School wish to appoint for September 2025 a committed, practising Catholic to the post of Headteacher to lead and inspire our school community to the next stage of its development.

We are looking for a leader who will:

  • be a practising Catholic, who demonstrates a strong Catholic faith and is committed to the Catholic ethos of the school;
  • is inspirational, with a clear vision for the future of the school, building on its current successes;
  • be a strong communicator, who can engage all stakeholders in the next phase of the school’s development;
  • ensure that the needs of every student are met, placing great importance on high quality pastoral care and support, enabling all to ‘have life and have it to the full’;
  • has determination and drive to ensure all students achieve and has a continuous focus on school improvement;
  • be committed to the professional development of staff and self, being mindful of their welfare and well-being;
  • be committed to continuing and growing effective partnerships with families, parishes, feeder primaries, the Diocese of Shrewsbury and Warrington Local Authority, partner organisations and agencies and the wider community;
  • is aware of the wider educational landscape and the challenges this brings in terms of change and future academisation.

Closing date for receipt of applications: Tuesday 6th May 2025 at 10.00am

Interviews to be held on 14th and 15th May 2025

Start Date: September 2025

Please note the latest version of the CES application form and a Model Rehabilitation of Offender act 1974 must be completed for this post.

Applications for the post should be sent to: Mrs Julie English, PA to the Director of Schools, Diocese of Shrewsbury (Julie.English@dioceseofshrewsbury.org)


What the school offers its staff

Cardinal Newman is a school at which St. John Henry Newman’s motto, ‘Heart Speaks to Heart,’ is authentically lived out by our committed staff and governors to ensure the young people in our school have the best possible experience. It is a school built on the solid foundations of our Catholic Values and ethos, secure and strong in all regards and ready for a new leader to bring their vision and drive to elevate our school to the bright future our community deserves.

Cardinal Newman has achieved a very secure ‘Good’ judgement from Ofsted, and outstanding in 7 of the 9 categories for the denominational inspection. Neither inspection is due again until the academic year 26/27, giving the new leader time to assess, plan and implement their actions in order to build on this position. We are particularly proud of the outstanding judgement for the quality of our worship and our Catholic Life. Whilst 50% of our student population are Catholic, the other half of our community have a variety of backgrounds and, as the most diverse secondary school in Warrington, we are enriched by that variety. The fact that our most recent inspection gave us the highest grade for these areas reflect the engagement of all students, regardless of background, and is testament to the consistency, authenticity, and thoughtfulness with which our strategy has been delivered. The new leader will need to bring similar commitment to what is the underpinning strength of everything we do at Cardinal Newman.

In this endeavour, you will be supported by a committed staff team who work incredibly hard for our community. The SLT are a strength of the school. They comprise of a Curriculum Deputy and four Assistant Headteachers. In the current structure, their areas of responsibility are Pupil Progress, Teaching and Learning, Behaviour and Attitudes, and Personal Development. The Personal Development Assistant Headteacher is also our DSL, and the strength of her practice, and the pastoral team, has led Cardinal Newman to be recognised as Pastoral Team of the year by the NAPCE in 2021. Our Deputy Headteacher is driving the strategy to improve outcomes, which is evidenced in our improved 2024 results – however there is much more to do in this regard, and you will have a deputy who has the enthusiasm and knowledge to work closely with you to make this a reality.

Moreover, as Headteacher, you will receive first class support from an outstanding Chair of Governors, and the incredibly well informed and experienced governing body. As Headteacher for the past seven years, I could not have asked for a better team of governors, and it is with their backing that I have been able to lead the developments which have taken place thus far.


Commitment to safeguarding

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Post is subject to an Enhanced DBS Disclosure.

Applying for the job

Please download the application form using the link below, and once completed send to Julie.English@dioceseofshrewsbury.org

CVs are not accepted.

Visas cannot be sponsored.
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Additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

About Cardinal Newman Catholic High School

School type
Local authority maintained school, Roman Catholic, ages 11 to 16
Education phase
Secondary
School size
846 pupils enrolled
Age range
11 to 16
Ofsted report
View Ofsted report
Phone number
01925 628612

Cardinal Newman Catholic High School is located in Latchford, Warrington with a large catchment area extending across the South of Warrington from which we draw 800 pupils.
We are a vibrant, ambitious and caring community, with students drawn from a variety of backgrounds. Everything that happens within our school is inspired by gospel values and Cardinal Newman’s words that we are all ‘a link in a chain. A bond of connection between persons.’
The extra-curricular life of our school is flourishing, with a wide variety of active sports clubs. We have particular success in Rugby League and Rowing for both our male and female teams, but our sporting offer is wide ranging and growing. Our Performing Arts are a key component of the enrichment on offer with a variety of musical ensembles, a highly successful school show and both Drama and Music thriving at GCSE. Our cutting edge provision in mental health and our outstanding pastoral team ensure that our students have the emotional skills they need to succeed throughout their lives. Our staff team are also committed to lifelong learning and continuing professional development.

Arranging a visit to Cardinal Newman Catholic High School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email mwa@cardinal-newman.co.uk.

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