A NATIONAL figure in education has been rewarded for her commitment to learning with a Damehood in the Queen’s birthday honours.
Chief executive officer of Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust Maura Regan becomes a Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in recognition of her outstanding leadership and 42 years of service to education in the region and nationally.
Maura, of Sedgefield, said: “I am proud to be the CEO of Bishop Hogarth CET and for the opportunities it has afforded me. Having been in education since 1979 it is a genuine pleasure to have had a positive impact on the lives of so many children and staff over the years. It is a great honour and immensely humbling to be recognised in this way.”
Raised in Fishburn, County Durham, a miner’s daughter, Maura began her career in London teaching history and RE, returning to the North East to take a pastoral role before becoming deputy head pastoral and subsequently principal of Carmel College.
As the architect of Carmel Education Trust, she became its founding CEO having led the successful transformation of Carmel College from a single outstanding college to the lead school in a multi-academy trust. Maura was awarded the OBE in the 2015 New Year’s Honours for services to education. She is also a Deputy Lieutenant for County Durham.
As a result of the Bishop Robert’s plan for the diocese, the trust amalgamated with two others to form Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust, comprising 28 schools both primary and secondary.
Recognised as a leading organisation nationally, all schools in the Bishop Hogarth Catholic Education Trust have been rated as good or better on inspection after joining. By 2022, it will become a trust of 35 schools by 2022.
In her role as a National Leader for Education Maura and her leadership team have supported schools across the region and nationally.
Carmel College is one of the top performing schools nationally and is a Maths Hub, leads a Science Learning Partnership and is a designated Research School. Carmel College has a long history of Initial Teacher Training.
Maura works with the DfE and has supported a number of Trusts nationally through the Tailored Support and Trust Support programmes.
She is a Trustee of Schools North East, a Director of The Emmanuel Schools Foundation and a Governor of Durham School.
Maura is regularly invited to address national audiences on a range of educational initiatives, especially on the benefits and complexities of establishing and leading a multi-academy trust in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity, solidarity and support for the common good. She is a keynote speaker for the Catholic Education Service National Executive Leader programme.
Maura is a member of the National Advisory Group looking at recruitment and retention among teachers.
She is also a member of the sub-group working with the DfE on the Opportunity North East Programme established by the Secretary of State.
She has championed the Just Change Campaign on behalf of Citizens Uk (Tyne and Wear division). This campaign is to ensure that free school meal children receive their full entitlement.
Passionate about making a difference, Maura believes that “every child should be given every opportunity to succeed”.