SUCCESSFULLY APPOINTED! Diocesan Schools Commissioner - Diocese of Lancaster

SUCCESSFULLY APPOINTED! Diocesan Schools Commissioner - Diocese of Lancaster - Lancashire

to £80,000 + TPS + Relocation support - Catholic - Head/Principal
Ref: 123 Date Posted: Wednesday 04 Feb 2026

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A PAST VACANCY EMMAUS HAVE APPOINTED TO.

Diocesan Schools Commissioner

Location: Lancaster
Contract Type: Full Time
Contract Term: Permanent
Start Date: Negotiable

Looking for a fresh challenge and a fulfilling vocation?

The Bishop of Lancaster, The Rt. Revd. Paul Swarbrick, is seeking to appoint a Diocesan Schools Commissioner (DSC) as a key member of his senior diocesan leadership team.

The Diocese of Lancaster is situated across some of the most beautiful scenery in England - encompassing the regions of Lancashire, North of the Ribble and all of Cumbria.

The Lancaster Diocesan Board of Education has oversight of 82 schools (70 Primary, 11 Secondary and one Sixth Form College). Bishop Paul has requested that all schools in the Diocese will progress towards forming and joining multi-academy trusts by the close of 2026. This work is already well underway, with two regional MATs already up and running and a third launching in the near future.

Bishop Paul is calling for a visionary Diocesan Schools Commissioner (Director of Education) who, along with a capable and committed education team, will help realise the enormous potential within a forward-thinking diocesan family of schools working in solidarity with one another.

As Diocesan Schools Commissioner, you will:

  • Promote and implement the Bishop’s vision for Catholic education within the Diocese
  • Build capacity, trust and good relationships within the diocesan family of schools; encouraging collaboration to develop and sustain school improvement, and raise aspirations
  • Confidently and enthusiastically articulate the role of Catholic education in the mission of the Church and be an effective witness to it

We are looking for someone who has:

  • Extensive leadership experience in an education context, whether as a senior school leader, governor or local authority/SIP partner
  • A strong grasp of current educational issues (including CMATs’ evolving role within the parish, diocese and local community)
  • Excellent leadership and management skills - the ability to communicate a clear vision, win trust, influence and respect and bring people with you
  • A deep knowledge and understanding of Catholic education as structured in this country

Now is a moment of real opportunity within the educational and Catholic life of the Diocese, which makes this post an extremely attractive and rewarding career opportunity.

A requirement of the post is that applicants must be practising Catholics.

For further details or to have an informal discussion, please contact Liam Dowds, our Emmaus Leadership Advising Consultant who is assisting us with this assignment, in complete confidence, on 01737 652 043 or ldowds@emmausleadership.me BEFORE APPLYING.

The Diocese of Lancaster is an equal opportunities employer and committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. DBS check required.

"Could we afford it? My belief, as Chair was that we couldn’t afford not to. We needed strong school leaders to be drawn to apply. Our success was down to using Emmaus and definitely money well spent."

Carry Lynott - Chair of Governors, Our Lady and St Brendan's Catholic Primary School, Bradford

"Having previously struggled to recruit two Headteachers - for both a Primary and a Secondary school - Emmaus came to the rescue. Their expert advice and deep understanding of recruiting Headship positions in Catholic schools is invaluable, and I have no hesitation in recommending their knowhow and their values."

Fr David Gibbons, Chair of Governors & Parish Priest, Archdiocese of Southwark

"I would thoroughly recommend Emmaus for any diocese or MAT seeking to appoint at a senior level in Catholic Education. Should we need help in the future...I would be confident in using Emmaus again."

Bishop Alan Williams sm - Diocese of Brentwood

"…we also considered other external recruiters, but Emmaus were clear favourites in terms of their recruitment expertise and in-depth knowledge and appreciation of the catholic school’s sector."

Peter Giorgio, Director of Education, Nottingham Diocese

"We are delighted with the appointment we made and I have reported to the whole community that we could not have been more thorough in the search or more rigorous in the selection process. Thank you Emmaus Leadership."

Jacqui Feely, Chair at All Hallows Catholic College, Macclesfield

"We had been cold called by a few other companies but chose Emmaus as it specialised in Church schools. We were impressed by Liam and his team coming to the school and burrowing in to what the school wanted and needed. He asked searching questions and we were satisfied this was the way forward. I had not been a fan of head hunters before, but I have to say this process and its result was a hugely better experience than going out on our own and was totally professional throughout."

Bridget Prentice, Chair of Governors - Trinity School, Lewisham

"From prospective applicant through to newly appointed CEO at Tenax Schools Trust, I cannot speak highly enough of the services provide by Emmaus.  I recommend Emmaus Leadership without reservation."

Mark Cole, Chief Executive Officer - Tenax Schools Trust

"We came across Emmaus by accident after our own attempts to recruit a Headteacher failed. We would not hesitate to engage them again to find a suitable candidate for a leadership position."

Michael Tennant - Chairman of the Board, St Edward's School

"We tried going it alone to find a CEO for our MAT but had only 2 applicants who didn't meet our requirements. We approached Emmaus and from the start their professionalism was reassuring."

Barry Leyland, Chair - Blessed Edward Bamber Catholic Multi Academy Trust

"This is the second time our Governing Board has used the services of Emmaus Leadership in the successful appointment of a new headteacher and we have no hesitation in recommending them to others."

Rosemary Johnson, Chair of Governors - Lowton CE High School

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