Jane Sheat is retiring as Diocesan Director of Education (DDE) for the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich at the end of this academic year. Jane will have served in the role for 16 years since 2010.
Jane says: It has been an absolute pleasure and a privilege to serve as DDE. Over the years I have worked with an incredibly talented team and with fabulous headteachers and governors in our 87 church schools throughout Suffolk. When I started, it was the very beginning of the establishment of academies and there have been many changes and challenges in the education landscape over the years. Throughout that time, our church schools have done an incredible job of providing a high quality of education underpinned by Christian values. My job has been to ensure that as a diocese we provide effective training and support so that pupils and adults in all our church schools flourish. I am particularly proud of our RE teaching resource, the Emmanuel Project which is widely used by teachers in Suffolk and beyond, and of having established our Diocesan Multi Academy Trust. I am also pleased to have developed partnerships with organisations like Christian Aid and iSingPop. I have loved this role and will miss the people with whom I work but feel that the time is right to retire this summer. I look forward to this next stage of life, and to continuing to serve God, whatever He has in store!"
Chair of the DBE, Archdeacon Rich said: "It has been a joy to work with Jane. She is dedicated to serving church schools, and brings a strategic mind and an attention to detail to all she does. She is well respected and we will miss her leadership and quiet good humour."
Bishop Joanne adds: "I have not known Jane for long but am aware of her national role, as Jane has both chaired the Association of Diocesan Directors of Education in the past and mentored several new DDEs. Since arriving I have valued Jane’s contribution to the diocese as a member of Bishop’s Staff. She will be greatly missed, and I wish her every blessing as she prepares for this next stage. We remain committed as a diocese to supporting our schools and keeping children and young people at the heart of all we do."
The post will be advertised in the coming weeks to enable a new Director to start in September 2026.