School Lay Chaplain

Location: St Leonard’s Catholic School, North End, Durham, DH1 4NG 

Grade: Grade G SCP 19-23 (£32,061 – £34,434 per annum, pro rata) 

Hours: 37 hours per week, Permanent, Term Time Only + 15 Days (41 weeks) 

Applications are invited from practising and committed Catholics for the post of School Lay Chaplain at St Leonard’s Catholic School. 

We are proud to be part of the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, a family of secondary, middle, primary and first schools in Durham, Gateshead, Northumberland and Sunderland. Bishop Wilkinson is the largest Catholic Education Trust in the North East of England. This is an exciting time to join our supportive, and growing team. 

St Leonard’s Catholic School is a thriving, oversubscribed secondary school with a vibrant sixth form, located in the historic cathedral city of Durham. We are proud to have been graded ‘Outstanding’ in all areas by Ofsted (October 2024), with inspectors praising our culture of care and achievement where every pupil is known and loved. They highlighted our expertly designed curriculum, exceptional teaching, and strong personal development programme that builds character and resilience. Pupils achieve exceptionally well and value the high-quality education they receive.  

Our Catholic Schools Inspection (2025), commended St Leonard’s as a community where faith and learning flourish together, describing our mission as “lived and visible in every aspect of school life.” Inspectors noted the strength of our pastoral care, the commitment of staff to pupils’ spiritual and moral development, and the inclusive, supportive environment that makes our school a joy to be part of.  

Our newly opened school, delivered through the national School Rebuilding Programme, offers cutting-edge facilities while looking ahead to the restoration and opening of our Victorian house in 2027, which will sit at the heart of our site and add lasting character. 

As one of the highest-achieving schools in the North East—with almost 50% of GCSE grades at 9–7 and excellent A Level outcomes (Overall Grade B)—we have a strong track record for Oxbridge and Russell Group university applications.  

Why work with us?  

• Outstanding behaviour and a calm, respectful learning environment.  

• A supportive, faith-driven community where staff are valued and developed.  

• High-quality professional development opportunities through the school and Trust.  

• A school culture that prioritises wellbeing, collaboration, and excellence.  

• Exciting future with state-of-the-art facilities opened in Spring 2026.  

How to Apply:  

To apply, please visit our website https://bwcet.com/school-lay-chaplain/ to download the application pack and return your completed application to recruitment@bwcet.com by the closing date.

To arrange an informal visit, please contact the school via email rthornton@stl.bwcet.com or contact via telephone on: 0191 384 8575. Further information about the school is available online at https://stleonardsdurham.bwcet.com/  

Closing date: Sunday, 31st May 2026 at 11:59pm 

Shortlisting: Wednesday, 3rd June 2026 

Interview date: Tuesday, 9th June 2026 

The Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and is subject to an enhanced DBS check. An online search will be completed for all shortlisted candidates.