The new executive headteacher at St Charles and St Mary’s says she is excited to be leading both primary schools on the next part of their journey.

Bernadette Quirke has been headteacher at St Charles’ for seven years, most recently leading the school to a ‘Good’ Ofsted grading.

She has now been appointed as executive headteacher at St Charles on The Carriage Drive, Hadfield, and St Mary’s, on Gladstone Street, Glossop, which was also recently graded ‘Good’ in all areas by Ofsted.

Mrs Quirke said: “It has been a pleasure to have been the headteacher of St Charles’ Catholic Voluntary Academy for the past seven years, a school which prides itself in serving the local community and providing an excellent education for all our pupils, who are taught how to ‘Belong, to Believe and to Blossom’.

“I am delighted to be appointed as the executive headteacher for St Charles and St Mary’s CVA, both thriving and successful schools within the local Glossop community. 

“Both schools have been on similar journeys, moving from special measures, to being judged as good schools in their latest Ofsted reports. 

“During this time, both schools worked and supported each other, so working collaboratively is nothing new to St Mary’s and St Charles and being part of the St Ralph Sherwin Catholic Multi Academy Trust, the values of ‘being stronger together’ shine through.”

Mrs Quirke described St Mary’s, which was also recently graded as Good with Outstanding features in its latest Catholic Schools Inspection, as a ‘warm and friendly’ school.

She said: “The mission at St Mary’s is for pupils to ‘Learn to Love, Learn to Believe, Learn to Achieve’ and I am excited to be leading both schools on the next part of their journey and sharing the expertise which exist in both schools.

“The beauty of being part of a Trust is the close networks which have already been established and both schools already operate in a similar manner, with the pupils being at the heart of everything we do. 

“Both schools are also supported by the Heads of School who include Sarah Rudd at St Mary’s and Ian Bowd at St Charles. 

“Staff already know each other and share the same ambitious vision for all pupils at both schools, which includes delivering academic excellence and for pupils to fulfil their potential.

“Together as a strong team, we are excited by the opportunity to pool resources and expertise together in order to benefit the pupils at St Charles and St Mary’s.”

The schools are already planning  joint trips to Alton Towers and a residential trip to the Lake District has        been planned for older pupils in the summer.

Kevin Gritton, Chief Executive of the St Ralph Sherwin Trust, said: “We are delighted to appoint Mrs Quirke as executive headteacher across St Charles and St Mary’s.

“This appointment is recognition of the wonderful work that Mrs Quirke has done at St Charles, alongside staff, most recently leading the school to a Good Ofsted rating in December 2022.

“She will be working closely with staff and governors at St Charles and St Mary’s, and the Trust, to ensure that both schools continue to go from strength to strength.”

If you want to find out more about the welcoming and inclusive nature of both schools you can go along to open events at St Charles’ on Saturday, October 21, from 9.30-11am, and Thursday, November 17, from 5-6pm, and at St Mary’s on Thursday, October 19, and Thursday, November 23, both from 5-6pm.