Abingdon & Witney College deputy principal Di Batchelor will take the step up to principal after the Christmas break when Teresa Kelly retires.
The board of governors said it appointed Ms Batchelor because of her “impressive personal contribution” to the college’s recent progress in curriculum development, teaching and learning, and the development of new facilities.
Ms Batchelor, who joined Abingdon College in 1992 as head of adult learning, previously worked at Oxfordshire County Council as part of the adult education team.
Stephen Dexter, chair of governors said the board was “unanimous in its decision and has utmost confidence in Ms Batchelor to continue the successful progress of Abingdon & Witney College”.
Ms Kelly said: “I am delighted that Ms Batchelor will take up the position as college principal when I retire at Christmas.
“I have worked closely with Ms Batchelor for the last 12 years and I have every confidence that I will be leaving the college in safe and inspirational hands. This is very good news for education and training in Oxfordshire.”
Meanwhile, awarding organisation Vocational Training Charitable Trust (VTCT) has appointed Alan Woods OBE to succeed Dr Stephen Vickers as its chief executive with effect from January 1.
Mr Woods arrives after leading on apprenticeships and vocational education with the University of Law (ULaw) for the past 18 months.
Before working with ULaw he led Skills for Justice, a sector skills council licensed by the government to work with employers on competences, skills and apprenticeships.
Mr Woods said: “I am particularly looking forward to leading, with a great set of staff colleagues at VTCT, on new areas of work including: on-line assessments, working with employers to engage with new, higher and more bespoke qualifications, new partnerships with education providers and centres to develop outstanding technical centres of excellence, particularly within hair and beauty therapy, and to support the ambition of our employers to support the apprenticeship revolution that is sweeping the UK.”
And Martin Doel will be standing down as chief executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC) from September to move to a new professorship for the Further Education Trust for Leadership (Fetl).
Mr Doel will continue in his post with the AoC until then, helping to establish his new role as Fetl Professor of FE and skills at the University College London (UCL) Institute of Education (IOE) from April 1.
A Fetl spokesperson said the role was “the very first professorial role for the sector and will help lead thinking to influence policy and help shape the future for FE and skills”.
Mr Doel said: “Working at the AoC has been the most rewarding job that I have had.
“In my new role on behalf of Fetl in the Institute of Education, I will look to draw on my experience at AoC to continue to enhance understanding of the FE and skills sector.”
A spokesperson for the AoC said it “will undertake the process of appointing a new chief executive in January”.
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