Warwickshire College defends ‘disturbing’ and ‘unusual’ interim principal appointment

Warwickshire College has defended its decision to appoint its chair of governors as interim principal after the move was described as “unusual” and “disturbing” by sector figures.

The college has insisted its decision to appoint chair of governors Sue Georgious on an interim basis when principal Mariane Cavalli took a “temporary leave of absence” had followed “due process”.

The college declined to comment further on the reasons for Ms Cavalli’s absence.

However, a spokesperson said: “The board appointed the interim principal following due process and with the appropriate legal advice.

“This appointment is on an interim basis in order to ensure business as usual at the college.”

However, several voices within the sector have criticised the appointment.

Dame Ruth Silver, former chair of the Learning and Skills Improvement Service and now president of the Further Education Trust for Leadership, told FE Week: “This move from chair to chief executive is highly unusual and more than a little disturbing.

“It goes against all the standards we know and which guide us about openness and transparency in public life, especially in the context of the principal being described as on some sort of leave.

“I can think of no circumstance when this would be acceptable — there are agencies with trained and experienced FE colleagues readily available.

“This college is now without a principal and also an experienced chair  — this is no solution more a diminution of the importance of governance in public life. I trust it will be very shortlived.”

Unions have also expressed unease at the appointment of a chair of governors to the role.

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) deputy general secretary Malcolm Trobe said: “In general ASCL would not recommend that a chair of governors take on the role of acting principal.

“There are many reasons why this is potentially fraught with difficulties.

“The solution is usually, and often more appropriately, to appoint someone to an acting post from amongst the existing leadership team or to find a short-term interim from the bank of recently retired principals.”

The regional official for the University and College Union (UCU), Anne O’Sullivan, said: “We are meeting with the former chair of governors/acting principal and deputy principal this week.

“There is much to discuss, but we will seek to establish what is happening in terms of staffing at the top level of the college.”

The UCU had also called on the college to open its accounts after freedom of information requests revealed Ms Cavalli’s salary had increased by £50,000 in two years, while just under 100 staff at the college were facing redundancy.

The Warwickshire College spokesperson said: “All colleges face financial challenges and Warwickshire College is no different.

“A dual strategy of cost saving and growth over the next three year period has been underway for some time linked with the development of a new five year strategic vision and plan.

“The board are taking a robust and realistic approach to this in the current financial environment in order to strengthen and build a sustainable future for the college going forward.”

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6 Comments

  1. Philip Briggs

    If it is a ‘temporary leave of absence’ then why ‘interim’ and not ‘acting’?

    Former Chair appointed? Legal advice?

    Their words, not others; interesting.

  2. Philomena

    Ms Cavalli, as principal, reports to Ms Georgious, as chair of the governors. If there has been an issue that requires exploration, then by definition that issue must involve the chair as much as it does the principal, given that the chair leads the body that approves the principal’s proposed strategies, plans and policies. Concern about any such issue doesn’t appear, thus, to be the reason for this change. Why not get in an interim from a suitable agency, or a principal from elsewhere, whilst the (seemingly non-existent) issue is resolved? FE boards are notoriously weak, made up in many cases of those who dress up as ‘putting something back’ their need to feel important, and to fill up their otherwise dull evenings. Amateur governors appoint other amateur governors, and the weakness of boards is thereby endemic. It’s very easy to manipulate an FE college board. Senior managers in FE have been doing it for years, it’s how so many appallingly useless principals have kept their jobs. It does now rather appear that some governors have woken up to the same weakness, and opportunity. Those governors that supported this move should publicly explain themselves, and be challenged to ensure they understand the difference between executive control and governance oversight. They might want to read the college’s Articles & Instruments before doing so. And consult their consciences.

  3. Jim Lyne

    I think the Board of Governors are ultimately responsible for all financial controls of the College. To appoint one of ther own to act as Cheif Executive means there is something very wrong that needs hiding. It needs a clean sweep with an acting Chief Executive from outside. The Governors must have agreed the massive pay rises and bonus to senior Management and been aware of the massive overspending

  4. Daisy

    It seems that the role of Deputy or Vice Principal may need clarification! The Vice President of the USA steps in if the President is unavailable so why does this not happen in these cases? What is the point of having a 2nd in Command if you don’t employ their skills if needed. The alternative is often a temporary agency appointment! Agencies must be raking it in as we all know the cost of an agency Vice Principal for a week is more than most teachers earn in a month! Perhaps Warwick are trying to avoid further unjustified expense! A Gazelle College I know of has an agency Vice Principal even though redundancies have been announced and huge cuts made to courses! It seems to be a ‘ Make it up as you go along’ culture that tends not to count the cost unless you are a teacher!

    • Jonathan

      Are any of you aware of how many vice principals, deputy principals and executive assistants the college has?

      As for a board of governors being collectively responsible for issues such as the pay of the college executive, were they all allowed to be present when such decisions were made?

      I think it would be unusual had the teacher and student governors been present that these awards would have been passed without some scrutiny of the achievements which justify the award.

      Has anyone seen the minutes from that particular meeting?