Assistant Principal: Person in Charge of Catholic Life and Head of RE

Post: Person in charge of Catholic life and mission (PICCL)

Reports to:

Responsible to:

Headteacher

The governing board

This appointment is with the governor board of the school/academy under the terms of the Catholic Education Service contract signed with the governing board as employers. The

governing board will appoint a practising Catholic who, by personal example and professional leadership, will ensure that the Catholic ethos, rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the

Catholic Church, permeates all aspects of the life of the school. The appointment is subject to the current conditions of service contained in the School

Teachers’ Pay and Conditions document and other current education and employment legislation. In carrying out his/her duties the PICCL shall consult, where appropriate, the

governing board, the diocese, the local authority, the staff of the school, the parents of its pupils and the parish(es) served by the school.

This job description may be amended at any time, following consultation between the PICCL and the governing board and will be reviewed annually.

Core purpose

The PICCL will lead, coordinate, and develop the school’s Catholic life and mission and play a key role in the implementation of the bishops’ vision for Catholic education, ensuring alignment

with diocesan protocols and canonical responsibilities (Canon 806). The postholder will ensure that all aspects of school life are shaped by the Gospel, faithful to diocesan directives, and meet

the requirements of the Catholic Schools Inspectorate. They will foster the spiritual, moral, vocational, social, and cultural development of pupils and staff, ensuring that Catholic identity

permeates the curriculum, pastoral structures, and wider community life. In partnership with the headteacher, they will lead on the formation of Christ-centred pilgrims of hope with kind

hearts, questioning minds, a thirst for knowledge and a hunger for justice.

The postholder will work with the headteacher, their SLT colleagues, governors, clergy and chaplains to ensure Catholic life and mission are at the heart of the school, inspiring pupils to

live out the Gospel as active witnesses in Church and society.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic leadership

• Provide strategic vision and evidence-informed leadership for Catholic life and mission,

ensuring they are central to the school’s improvement planning.

• Ensure compliance with all diocesan directives.
• Integrate Catholic life and mission priorities into school improvement plans and ensure resources are allocated effectively.
• Lead staff formation and CPD so that Catholic life and mission is understood and modelled by all.
• Support governors in fulfilling their responsibility as guardians of the school’s Catholic mission.
• Engage fully with diocesan officers and the bishop’s vision, ensuring the school is at the service of the diocese and local Church.
• Build strong partnerships with parents as first educators of their children in the faith.

Pupils and provision

• Ensure pupils understand and contribute to the school’s Catholic mission, valuing its distinct identity and, where applicable, charism.
• Promote pupils’ moral development, respect for self and others, and commitment to
• Catholic social teaching principles, including service, stewardship, and justice.
• Enable pupils to participate actively in chaplaincy, retreats, charity work, and parish partnerships, developing leadership opportunities.
• Ensure Catholic identity, rooted in Catholic social teaching principles, permeates all curriculum areas and the school’s wider life.
• Support chaplaincy provision that nurtures the spiritual and moral development of pupils and staff.
• Ensure inclusivity, community, and pastoral care are central to provision, especially for the most vulnerable.
• Oversee the quality of the school environment so it reflects and celebrates its Catholic identity.
• Manage and deploy the lay chaplain, supporting chaplaincy programmes.
• Coordinate retreats, missions, and liturgical events, ensuring they are well-planned, inclusive, and formative.
• Lead Catholic social teaching initiatives, enabling pupils and staff to engage with local, national, and global issues.

Monitoring and evaluation

• Establish systems to monitor and evaluate accurately the quality and impact of Catholic life and mission across the school.
• Gather and respond to feedback from pupils, parents, staff, governors, and clergy.
• Provide regular reports to SLT and the governing board on strengths and areas for improvement.
• Ensure rigorous self-evaluation informs improvement and that preparation for CSI inspections is thorough and accurate.

Personal formation

• Demonstrates a clear commitment to their own faith life and ongoing personal formation, ensuring they remain inspired and informed, and able to model authentic witness and spiritual growth to others.

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