Are you an exceptional Catholic leader, ready to help young people flourish academically, personally and spiritually – “In Faith We Grow”?
St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust (SJCMAT) is seeking to appoint an outstanding Headteacher to lead St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy, a thriving 11–16 Catholic Academy serving St Helens.
This is a pivotal appointment: you will shape the next stage of the academy’s journey, working closely with the Trust CEO, Director of Secondary Education, the Central Team and the Local Governing Body to deliver an exceptional Catholic education for every pupil.
About St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy
Motto: “In Faith We Grow”.
Through prayer, service, and a commitment to excellence, we grow together in faith, supporting one another, celebrating our unique gifts, and preparing to make a difference in the world. Our Catholic Life is a journey of hope, belief, and love, and we are proud to walk it together.
As a Catholic school we nurture our students to become strong, independent young women and men, ready to make a significant contribution to our communities, locally, nationally and internationally, rooted in the goodness of God.
We want our students to be happy and successful, but also to live out the Gospel values of fairness, care and compassion. That is what makes our school community a special place in which to grow and learn.
The academy was judged Good for Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, and Leadership and Management Ofsted (December 2024)
About St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust (SJCMAT)
SJCMAT is committed to transforming children’s lives through a world-class Catholic education. Our academies work in deep partnership so that leaders can focus on what matters most: strong Catholic life and mission, excellent teaching, and high standards for every pupil. We invest heavily in leadership development and school improvement capacity through our Trust Central Team and a strong community of headteachers.
Across the Trust, St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy’s improvement journey reflects SJCMAT’s commitment to strategic support, staff development and strong collaboration between academies.
The Opportunity
The Headteacher will:
- Provide confident, visible and compassionate leadership that places the example and teachings of Jesus Christ at the centre of academy life.
- Lead evidence-informed school improvement, delivering a robust improvement plan in line with SJCMAT’s strategy.
- Secure excellent outcomes and exceptional teaching and learning across 11–16.
- Work in close partnership with all stakeholders.
- Champion inclusion, staff development and a culture of high expectations, professional courtesy and continual improvement.
- Ensure safeguarding is at the heart of all decisions and that pupils are safe, known and supported.
Who we are looking for
The successful candidate will:
- Be a practising Catholic with a strong faith commitment, embracing Catholic life and mission as a core leadership responsibility.
- Be an inspirational leader with a clear, compelling vision for Catholic education and the ability to unite stakeholders behind that vision.
- Have a strong understanding of evidence-informed school improvement and a proven track record of leading improvement at whole-school level.
- Demonstrate a secure understanding of the CSI and Ofsted frameworks and a relentless commitment to excellence for every pupil.
- Build strong relationships with staff, pupils, parents/carers, governors, Trust colleagues and external partners.
- Communicate with clarity and warmth, listening actively and engaging confidently with a range of audiences.
- Respond and adapt effectively to changing circumstances, sustaining high performance and professional wellbeing.
- Place safeguarding at the heart of decision-making and model the highest standards of professional conduct.
What we offer
- Enthusiastic, ambitious young people who are keen to learn.
- A highly supportive, effective and ambitious Local Governing Body.
- A dedicated teaching and support team committed to the academy and its pupils.
- High-quality support for school improvement and operations from the SJCMAT Central Team.
- Support and challenge from headteacher colleagues across the Trust.
- Excellent professional development, including leadership development opportunities.
- Benefits platform including EAP
Key dates
- Closing date: 19 March 2026
- Shortlisting: 20 March 2026
- Interviews: 26 and 27 March 2026
Trust website: www.sjcmat.co.uk Academy website: https://staugs.org.uk/
For an informal discussion, please contact Michael Gun-Why (Director of Secondary Education) on email at dse@sjcmat.co.uk
This is a reserved post. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are a practising Catholic.