BWCET – Bishop Wilkinson Educational Trust

Dedicated to the health, care, wellbeing and academic progress of our wonderful students

Our mission is to help every member of the school community to reach their full potential

We deliver a balanced and broad curriculum that promotes the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our students

Welcome from our Chief Executive

Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust supports and partners with five secondary schools, one middle school, one first school and forty-one primary schools in the west of our Diocese.

Our designated schools are located in four different Local Authorities: Northumberland, Gateshead, Sunderland and Durham. Within our Trust we have a Centre For Teaching, a National Computing Hub, a National MFL Hub, a Science Learning Partnership and a national accredited NPQ (National Professional Qualification for Headship and Leadership) provider.

As Chief Executive Officer of the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust I never cease to be amazed by the hard work, commitment and dedication of our staff within the Trust with regard to health, care, well-being and academic progress of our wonderful students.

Our Trust is brimming with talent and expertise which is provided by our excellent Head Teachers, staff and Trust central team. Through these dedicated people, we are able to focus on and help advise and support schools so they can create environments and opportunities that will allow transformational leadership and teaching to develop, grow and make a difference.

Nick Hurn, CEO
Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust

Find out more

Our Vision

At Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust we recognise that each individual member of our community is created in God’s image with unique talents and abilities.

We nurture each person through loving relationships and rich daily experiences centred on the teachings of Christ. We believe that humanity is a gift that we receive through others and that our relationships unlock the unique potential in each person. As such, we affirm the dignity of each individual and our values underpin everything we do across every school, with and for each student and member of staff.

Please visit our Vision & Values page for the full length version of this video.

Our Values

Develop spirituality

We believe that a knowledge of and a personal relationship with Christ brings meaning and direction to life.

Act with justice, respect and dignity

We believe that every member of our diverse community is created in God’s image and therefore we act with respect and show dignity, ensuring that all are treated with fairness, justice and equity. We work fervently to dispel inequality and pay special attention to those most in need.

Foster a sense of vocation

We believe that all members of our Trust should be supported to recognise their own purpose and to develop a sense of how they are called to contribute to society.

Promote educational excellence

We believe that each person should be equipped to excel through the highest quality learning opportunities and richest wider-school experiences.

Form high aspirations

We believe that every member of our Trust community should have the highest expectations of themselves and others and should be equipped with the knowledge and skills to achieve greatly.

Celebrate community

We believe that our schools promote truth, honesty, reconciliation, resilience and integrity in their own context, but together create strength, optimism and excellence across the Trust.

Support exceptional leadership

We believe that the best leadership in Catholic Schools raises the work of the staff and the attainment of young people to levels that exceed expectations through relentless focus, effective management skills, profound empathy, sustained energy and robust optimism, underpinned by wide professional knowledge founded on innovative research.

Our Schools

Trust Structure

The Trust has five Members who are accountable to the DfE. The Members are the guardians of the constitution, determining the governance structure of the Trust and providing oversight and challenge of the Directors to ensure the charitable objectives of the Trust are being fulfilled and a Catholic education is provided.

Members approve the Articles of Association and have the power to appoint and remove the Directors. Members appoint the Board of Directors to ensure the MAT is run in accordance with its aims and objectives.

In view of the overarching role of the Members, the Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle is a Member and appoints other Members from within the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. Members are independent of the Directors.