Roles and Responsibilities

Canon Law gives the Archbishop the duty to watch over the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese and to issue directives concerning their general regulation. The DES, acting as agents for the Archbishop, carries out this duty through support and challenge to ensure all MACs are flourishing and operate according to Can. 806 §2 which states that Directors of Catholic schools are to take care under the watchfulness of the local ordinary that the instruction which is given in them is at least as academically distinguished as that in the other schools of the area.

Canon Law relating to education can be found at https://www.vatican.va/archive/cod-iuris-canonici/eng/documents/cic_lib3-cann793-821_en.html

All tiers of leadership have a duty to act with integrity, objectivity and honesty in the best interests of the MAC and the school with reference to the Nolan Principles of Public Life, and shall be open about decisions (except where a matter is confidential) and be prepared to justify those decisions.

This scheme of delegation establishes how the DES, the MAC Directors, the Governors and the Principals work together to ensure that each school provides an excellent Catholic education to all its pupils ensuring effective operation and culture across the MAC in line with the "Strong Catholic MAC Framework".

The Members, who are signatories to the Articles of Association, are guardians of the governance of the Multi Academy Company and accountable to the Archbishop.

The MAC Directors are accountable to the Members for all of the schools in that MAC. That means that they are responsible to government agencies for the quality of the education provided by every school. They are also responsible to the Archbishop for every school being run as a flourishing Catholic school in line with Can. 806 §2 serving as a witness to the Catholic faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ.  The Directors will follow all the guidance provided by the Catholic Education Service, relevant government agencies and the DES. 

The CEO is responsible for the performance of ALL schools and staff within the MAC. 

The role of the Local Governing Body (LGB), which is appointed for each school, is to provide assurance to the MAC Directors, through effective and proactive monitoring, that the school is delivering the strategy set by the Board to secure Catholic education, establishing and strengthening strong links with the parish and school communities.  The LGB operates as the eyes and ears of the local parish and Deanery community so that it is best placed to inform the MAC of the needs of the area that the school serves.   The people appointed to the LGB are known as Governors.

Executive Principals and Principals are responsible for the day to day running of a school and work with the LGB of that school to ensure that it is a flourishing organisation contributing to a flourishing MAC so that all constituent schools benefit from the sharing of best practice.

The DES provides support, training, guidance and challenge for the MAC Directors, for the Governors and for staff with regard to the Catholic ethos, mission and vision of the MAC and the schools. The DES is the first point of contact for advice, guidance and support in all matters that may impact on the quality and provision of Catholic education. This typically includes, but is not limited to, issues involving: RE, collective worship and Catholic life, admissions, governance, leadership, standards, staffing, buildings and premises, health and safety and finance.

The MAC Directors must manage and develop Catholic schools within the MAC in accordance with the principles, teachings and expectations of the Catholic Church. MAC Directors must follow and adhere to any advice, guidance or directives given by the Archbishop or by the DES on behalf of the Archbishop. 

MAC Directors MUST; 

Through a MAC Development Plan, ensure strategic oversight and provision of excellent Catholic education within the MAC. This must always be undertaken fairly and equitably so as not to give unreasonable advantage or disadvantage to any one or more schools within the MAC.  The MAC Directors must make sure that where there are problems in any of these areas, that such problems are successfully addressed. 

Preserve and develop the religious and educational character, mission and ethos of the MAC, as determined by the Archbishop who may work through the DES in accordance with the Articles of Association, and ensure that it is embedded in each school.  

Ensure that the MAC and all schools within it are fully compliant with the Bishop’s Directives.

No individual Director is empowered to make decisions on behalf of the MAC outside any specific authority set out in this scheme of delegation. 

However, as an exception, the Chair of the Board can decide as a single Director when a delay in doing so would be: 

• Seriously detrimental to the interests of the MAC of any of its schools, and 

• It would not be possible to postpone the decision to a meeting of the Board (which the Chair can convene with less than 7 days’ notice if necessary, provided the Board will have sufficient time to receive and consider relevant documents relating to the decision). 

The following types of decisions cannot be made by “Chair’s Action”: 

• Decisions in relation to admissions.

• Decisions on executive pay.

• Decisions relating to finance.

Those with responsibility for the MAC, and the schools within it, will think and act as a community.  A flourishing community must commit to the mutual support of all schools for which the MAC is responsible, especially those identified as being in need or requiring specific support.  There will be times when, in order to ensure the development and success of individual schools, some schools will be capacity givers and others will be capacity takers.  MAC policies will prioritise funding support to schools in need of assistance and the Directors will ensure that common action and collaboration is conducted at the correct level and that the balance between subsidiarity and solidarity serves the common good in the most appropriate way.

The collaborative nature of the MAC will be evident through its decision-making processes.  Subsidiarity means that decision making will be delegated to the appropriate level identified under this scheme of delegation on the understanding that decisions taken at those levels are compatible with the principles of solidarity, collaboration and the common good, working to maximise the life chances of all young people, regardless of which school they attend.  In doing so, the MAC will operate for the common good and, in particular, to care for its most vulnerable members.