Council launches investigation into college amid ‘serious allegations’

Three senior members ‘away from workplace’ pending probe into City College Peterborough

Three senior members ‘away from workplace’ pending probe into City College Peterborough

Several leaders of a council-run adult education college will remain “away from the workplace” after the council launched an independent investigation following “serious allegations”.

City College Peterborough will be without executive principal Pat Carrington, who is also chair of adult education network HOLEX’s board, plus two unnamed senior members of the college “until further notice”.

Peterborough City Council, which runs its adult and community learning provision through the college, said the college will remain open as normal during this period.

A city council spokesperson said: “As a result of the council receiving some allegations in relation to City College Peterborough, executive principal Pat Carrington and two further senior managers at the college will be away from the workplace until further notice.

“An independent investigation will now commence and as a result we are unable to comment further.”

The council would not name the other two senior members or clarify the college’s interim management at the time of publication.

No further information about the nature of the allegations has been released.

City College Peterborough is a registered charity and has around 120 employees who offer training to 16- to 19-year-olds, adult education courses like English for speakers of other languages, and apprenticeships.

Its last Ofsted report from 2017 rated the college as ‘good’.

According to its annual accounts for the period ended March 30, 2022, the college recorded over £3.7 million in income from donations and other charitable activities. It had a fund balance of nearly £5 million at the end of the financial year and achieved a surplus of £133,000.

Pat Carrington became executive principal in 2017, but has worked at the college since 2007. She has been part of the Holex board since 2014, becoming its voluntary chair in 2017 when she was also awarded an MBE for services to the community of Peterborough and further education.

She forms part of a four-strong executive team, plus six governors.

Carrington was approached for comment.

City College Peterborough declined to comment.

Latest education roles from

Group Director of Governance & Company Secretary

Group Director of Governance & Company Secretary

New City College

Principal (Harrow College) – HRUC

Principal (Harrow College) – HRUC

FEA

Deputy Director of Apprenticeships

Deputy Director of Apprenticeships

Manchester Metropolitan University

Independent Non- Executive Director (INED)

Independent Non- Executive Director (INED)

League Football Education

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

Supporting the UK’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan Through Skills

The UK Government’s Decarbonising Transport: A Better, Greener Britain strategy sets a legally binding path towards a net-zero transport...

Advertorial
Sponsored post

Project power: ASDAN expands its qualifications portfolio

From 2026, ASDAN’s planned Foundation and Higher Project Qualifications will sit alongside its Extended Project Qualification[CM1] , creating a complete...

Advertorial
ATAs

Spotlight on excellence: Nominations now open for the Apprenticeship & Training Awards 2026

Nominations are open for the 2026 Apprenticeship & Training Awards, celebrating outstanding employers and providers with national recognition, a...

FE Week Reporter
Sponsored post

Funding Adult Green Skills

New sources of funding are available to finance the delivery of green skills to all learners. Government policy is...

Tyler Palmer

More from this theme

Colleges

Governors Havant a clue about college’s finances going South

FE Commissioner reveals financial crisis at Hampshire college came 'out of the blue' for board members

Billy Camden
Colleges

Principals scratch their heads over new improvement teams

FE leaders warn Labour’s regional improvement teams risk duplicating oversight already performed by the FE Commissioner

Josh Mellor
Colleges

Weston freed of ‘traumatic’ NTI – but finance probe continues

College out of intervention after strengthening governance procedures

Anviksha Patel
Colleges, Skills reform

Skills England urged to confront government on FE funding

Joint AoC and UUK report also calls for 'excessive' competition to be challenged

Josh Mellor

Your thoughts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *