Your weekly guide to who’s new, and who’s leaving.
Saboohi Famili has joined Epping Forest College in London as its new principal.
She joins the college following a two-year stint supporting the government of Guernsey in reshaping post-16 education in the Bailiwick.
Prior to this, Ms Famili held the position of principal at Sutton College, a provider of further and adult education, for just over four years.
Ms Famili plans to launch a programme that encourages stakeholder engagement, in order to develop a strategy for Epping Forest that works alongside the regional economy, and meets the needs of the wider community.
She hopes to create a culture of openness, innovation and enterprise, and is also keen to celebrate the diverse nationalities and faiths in the college, through planning diversity showcases and setting up displays engaging students with the Prevent agenda.
A refugee from Iran, she was forced to remain in the UK over 17 years ago, which is something she claims has shaped her “can-do” approach.
Speaking of her plans to transform the college, Ms Famili said: “My role is to turn high hopes into reality. It is what our learners, employers and community deserves, and we are going to deliver.”
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Meanwhile, Edd Brown has been appointed as operations director for quality improvement at Further Education Associates (FEA), a FE consultancy.
Headquartered in Bristol, FEA works with senior leadership teams across the FE sector to deliver services ranging from developing strategies and plans for long-term changes, to providing colleges with interim leadership and management solutions.
Mr Brown’s role will involve project-managing support programmes for colleges aiming to improve their teaching, learning and assessment practice.
He joins the FEA from his role as a teaching and learning manager at Weston College in Weston-super-Mare, which he held for six years. He spent a total of 13 years at the college, holding various roles – his first being a lecturer in sport and public services.
Speaking of his new appointment at FEA, Mr Brown said: “As a teacher I could develop the learners in my class, which was thrilling. That became thousands when I was responsible for developing teaching and learning across the college. At FEA we can now support colleges and have an impact on tens of thousands.”
Mr Brown says he is most looking forward to bringing his skills to “a national platform” in his new role.
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Jonathan Godfrey is set to retire from his position as principal of Hereford Sixth Form College at the end of the academic year, after 19 years of service.
Mr Godfrey has been at the helm of the Folly Lane campus since 1997, and during his leadership has overseen funding cuts, area reviews and a number of college accolades.
The sixth form is currently rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, and in 2006 it was awarded the prestigious ‘Learning and Skills Beacon’ status by the secretary of state for education.
Mr Godfrey says his biggest challenge during his time at the college has been dealing with funding cuts, while still maintaining a high level of education at Hereford sixth form.
Following retirement, Mr Godfrey intends to keep busy, and he’s even considering the possibility of a whole new career path. He said: “I plan to go on to something else when I leave the college. Whether that’s pursuing teaching or something else entirely, I don’t know yet.”
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