Diocesan Schools Advisor

Introduction

Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education

The Diocese of Blackburn represents the Church of England across most of Lancashire and part of Wigan, supporting 191 Church of England schools in delivering high-quality education rooted in the Christian faith.

The Blackburn Diocesan Board of Education (BDBE) works to support, challenge, and equip schools in delivering excellence in:

• school effectiveness
• Christian distinctiveness and spiritual development
• leadership development
• governance
• curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment
• organisational structures and academisation
• safeguarding, wellbeing and inclusion
• SEND and vulnerable learners

Every school has an assigned School Advisor and receives a bespoke programme of support, challenge, and leadership development.

Role overview

The Diocese of Blackburn seeks an experienced, relational and rigorous Diocesan Schools Advisor support, challenge, and strengthen school effectiveness across the Diocese.

This post focuses on:

• school effectiveness (policy, procedures, systems from a Christian perspective)
• school improvement (learning, teaching, curriculum from a Christian perspective)
• Christian distinctiveness, collective worship and spiritual development
• leadership development
• governance advice and training
• admissions and appeals support
• structures, partnerships and academisation pathways
• SEND, inclusion and wellbeing (from a Christian perspective)

Working as part of the School’s Team and reporting to the Head of Schools, the postholder will provide high-quality advisory support to headteachers, governors, clergy and school leaders, ensuring that every school is equipped to flourish academically, spiritually and organisationally.

How to apply

For further information on this role, please visit General vacancies | The Diocese of Blackburn. 

Alternatively, please complete the following documents and forward them to hrapplications@blackburn.anglican.org:

1. Application form
2. Confidential declaration
3. Equal opportunities monitoring form

Closing date: 4pm, 15th May 2026

Interviews: From 10:30am, 3rd June 2026