Middlesbrough Schools

The Diocesan Education Service works to support and promote the work of Catholic schools and all who work towards ensuring their success. The service is headed by Rev. Canon Michael Bayldon who has overall responsibility for lifelong learning and formation throughout the diocese. Carolyn Duffy is the Schools' Director, Kath Stead is the RE adviser and Colette Hogarth is the secretary. The team is based in the Education Office at the Curial Office in Middlesbrough. Schools are supported across a range of areas including admissions, foundation governor appointments and training, buildings guidance and advice, senior staff appointments, liaison with LEAs and policy guidance. The Religious Education support includes Inservice training, advice on resources and Inspection support. There are locally based clusters of diocesan schools who already meet regularly and we aim to establish a diocesan based ‘Headteachers' Forum' to ensure a more comprehensive and cohesive framework for support.

The Diocesan Board of Trustees, under the guidance of Bishop John Crowley, are committed to the aim that there will be a place in a Catholic school for every baptised Catholic child. To this end trustees aim to support the Education team's work with governing bodies and LEAs to plan and provide sufficient school places. The diocese is well supported by the Catholic Education Service in seeking to provide assistance to schools on both a national and diocesan level with important areas such as new government legislation, school policies and teacher recruitment and retention.