James Crowe - New Headteacher of St Joseph's Catholic Academy, Hebburn
James Crowe joined St Joseph’s Catholic Academy, Hebburn in September 2024 as the new Headteacher. St Joseph’s Catholic Academy is part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, which has 25 primary schools and five secondary schools across South Tyneside, East Durham and Sunderland.
What has been your career path so far?
I studied geography and then completed teacher training at Durham University, with placements at Stokesley and Tudhoe, before joining St Edmund Campion Catholic School for my first job. This school became Cardinal Hume Catholic School in Gateshead. From joining 20 years ago as a geography teacher I worked my way up to the role of associate deputy headteacher.
Why did you join St Joseph’s?
I had been an Associate Deputy Headteacher for a few years and I was ready for the next step. This headteacher position came up at exactly the right time. St Joseph’s was definitely the one for me. Pre-Covid, I did some training here and got a really good vibe about the school and I have kept an eye on it ever since.
What is your initial view of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust?
The Trust is smaller than my previous one which was attractive to me. There is a helpful and genuine cohesion within the Trust which is very good.
How have you been welcomed by your new team?
It has been very positive. We have also recruited three new members to bolster the senior leadership team who joined us in January.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
The diversity – each day is very different. In my previous role, to a certain extent, it could be quite repetitive, as I had a very clear rhythm to the year. Here, everything is very different and I have more opportunities for strategy. I do miss teaching though and would like to incorporate that into my role at some point. This is the first year in my career where I haven’t had a GCSE or A Level class so it is quite a change.
What improvements have you implemented so far and plan to bring in?
My initial priority is to drive up standards of behaviour along with teaching and learning as we develop the structures to achieve outstanding outcomes for the students. We are looking at developing the site and working with external partners to add more facilities, especially in sport. The school is over-subscribed, so we need to increase our sports provision in particular.
What has been your proudest achievement in your career?
Apart from getting this job, my proudest achievement is helping my last school achieve an Outstanding grading from Ofsted.
What are the key challenges facing the education sector?
Funding, the pressure on local authorities to help pupils with SEND (special educational needs and/or disabilities) means more challenges fall to schools, the lost years due to Covid with a focus on reading and literacy standards, a changing curriculum, and uncertainty over Key Stage 5 pathways.
What has been the best piece of leadership advice you have received?
There is often no need to give an immediate answer. My advice is to think things through and give an answer that has been considered from all angles.
What is your leadership style?
It is centred around empowering others. That is the style of management that I have experienced throughout my career and that is what I want to emulate in my role. No-one needs to be micro-managed; they are professionals and it’s key to treat them as such.
How do you unwind?
Spending time with my wife and our two daughters, aged five and one. I like to go walking, travelling, going to see Sunderland AFC and playing golf. I have been really structured and strict with myself to make time to switch off. Sharing the nursery/school run with my wife means I make sure I manage my working time well. I am flexible with my team too as I am mindful of the challenges working parents face. You only get one chance to attend events such as their Nativity or Sports Day, and people remember your flexibility for special times like these.
For more information about BCCET, visit www.bccet.org.uk