Senior and Executive

What was your career journey to senior leadership?

I started my career coaching squash and quickly moved into sports teaching, where I enjoyed developing students and building their skills and knowledge to enter the sports industry. I found my passion for teaching pedagogy and became a Subject Learning Coach and an Advanced Teaching Practitioner, helping other teachers develop their craft. I have been in several middle leadership curriculum positions, such as Head of Department in a range of subjects as well as leading cross-college initiatives such as Enterprise, before entering senior leadership as a Director of Curriculum. In 2013 I started my Principalship journey at Dover when EKC Group acquired the Dover and Folkestone sites. After a successful transformation of this campus, I become Principal of Folkestone College with many highlights of building outstanding education, celebrating purposeful social action programmes, new curriculum developments, and exceptional employer relationships to shape the College’s future. I led as Principal at Ashford College through the pandemic and introducing the college to the EKC Group Family of colleges, before moving on as Principal at Canterbury College where new curriculum and quality improvements led to a significant contribution to the overall EKC Group Outstanding Ofsted Grade in 2023. I have since been Executive Principal and now Deputy CEO leading on Education for the Group, supporting new and developing senior leaders, and ensuring policy, processes and the implementation of safeguarding and education improvements are of the highest standard.

What do you most enjoy about working within the Group?

Since joining EKC Group in 2013 I have enjoyed working with the most amazing and talented staff that are dedicated and committed to the continuous improvement in provision, education practices and ensuring students in East Kent receive the very best education. Seeing our students thrive both academically, but also in their communities, to become independent and confident and as a result embrace the communities they live in, is the most rewarding and enjoyable part of my work.

Do you have any career highlights from your time with the Group?

I have many incredible memories and highlights since working at the Group, including being part of the achievement of Outstanding in Ofsted in 2023, and the partnerships with employers that have co-delivered exceptional programmes. I have developed and implemented outstanding education standards for staff to deliver excellence in their work, being the senior lead on our Beacon Award for Social Action, and seeing the talent of our students participate at the highest level in skills competitions.

What would you say to anyone else considering applying for the Group?

EKC Group is a very special place to work with staff committed to continuous learning, putting students at the heart of what we do, and serving our communities to ensure students gain the very best education regardless of their background. The Group is committed to ensuring all students, including those who are most vulnerable and/or with education needs, have exceptional opportunities, and we strive to continuously be at the forefront of leading innovation nationally to benefit the Further Education sector. We are committed to ensuring staff have opportunities to progress, and support staff with a comprehensive and bespoke development programme, as well as mentoring, coaching and line management tailored to sustain very high progression opportunities and ensure our staff can excel and realise their potential.

What do you think are the most important qualities needed to be a senior leader in Further Education?

The most important qualities of leaders in education is to be student focused and strive for the very best; have professional curiosity to continuously improve and find new opportunities; listen and collaboratively support staff and other leaders; have integrity and accountability for their work; develop a clear and purposeful vision with shared objectives and goals; and embrace talent and innovation to build an exceptional workforce and future leaders. EKC Group is an exceptional place to work and enables leaders to excel in their practice.