New College Principal Graham Taylor announces plans to retire next year

New College Swindon’s Principal Graham Taylor has announced that he plans to retire from his role in July 2018.

Graham joined New College in September 1996, from an Assistant Principal position at Eastleigh College in Hampshire.  Prior to that, he held teaching posts at colleges in Gloucestershire and Ealing, London.  Graham gained an economics undergraduate degree from the University of Lancaster and achieved postgraduate qualifications in management, computing and teaching. He is also the author of a number of academic books in IT and computing.

When he first arrived at New College, he inherited a College with an income of £3 million offering A Levels and sixth form courses to 16-18 year olds.  Over his 21 years of leadership, the College has expanded and diversified significantly with an income of circa £22 million and provision now including Apprenticeships, Pre-16 courses, Higher Education and adult education across qualification and leisure courses and business and professional training.  The College has also grown physically, with the current building opening in 2003, the addition of a Sports Centre, further extensions in 2005 and 2011 and a new Dance Studio in 2013.  OFSTED ratings have remained consistent at “Good” and the College has outstanding financial status (as awarded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency).  More recent initiatives and achievements include the development of a new school, Great Western Academy; plans for an All Weather Pitch for Summer 2018; exceptional English and Maths GCSE results within the FE sector; increased funding for Additional Learning Support  resources to support vulnerable learners and the development of New College as a Centre of Excellence for IT.

Charlotte Mannion, Chair of Governors at New College Swindon, said:

“The Governing Body and I would like to take his opportunity to thank Graham for his 21 years of service at the College.  The Corporation is very appreciative of the huge contribution he has made to the success and development of New College during this time.”

Graham Taylor, Principal of New College said:

“Any Principal/CEO is only as good as the staff around them and I pay tribute to those I have worked with over the years for helping to make New College a wonderful place to work in.  I am proud that in an era of increased competition and funding cuts we have survived and prospered. 

 We have also been extremely fortunate to attract, educate and train so many great learners (approximately 175,000 since 1996) who have gone on to achieve great things. It has been a privilege and pleasure to serve them. Education changes lives and I am so delighted to have been able to play a part in this.”

Graham intends to give something back to the education sector by undertaking consultancy work to help and advise other Colleges on their quality improvement processes.  New College is commencing a recruitment process to select a new Principal who will build on his legacy and continue to steer the College successfully through future challenges and opportunities.