A new chief has been appointed for a group of colleges which have sites in Worcestershire.

Sara-Jane Watkins, the South Gloucestershire and Stroud (SGS) College principal, is making a transition to Warwickshire Colleges Group, where she will serve as its group CEO and college principal.

The group includes institutions such as Pershore College and Evesham New College.

For 22 years, she has served SGS and Filton College in various capacities, starting as the director of corporate planning in 2001, progressing to her current post in 2015.

 

 

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During her tenure as a principal, she has overseen a 25 per cent growth of the college, spearheading the institution to achieving a 'good' grade with 'outstanding' features in the latest Ofsted inspection.

The chair of governors at SGS, Matt Atkinson said: "I am delighted for Sara-Jane to step into her first CEO role, a significant achievement for anyone in the Sector.

"It will, of course, be a loss for SGS as she has been an outstanding College Principal and has worked tirelessly through COVID, overseen considerable growth and maintained continuous improvement in the quality of everything we are doing here.

"On behalf of the College Corporation, I would like to put on record our thanks and appreciation for everything Sara-Jane has done for the College and we wish her every success in her new role."

Kevin Hamblin, the SGS Group CEO said: "Sara-Jane was one of my earliest appointments when I was appointed into my first CEO role at Filton College.

"It was therefore only a matter of time before Sara-Jane made this move and I know she will be a success at Warwickshire Colleges Group.

"SGS is in a very good place because of Sara-Jane, and the staff Sara-Jane has been responsible for managing, and I wish her well as she embarks on a new challenge."