Telford College of Arts and Technology principal stands down
Chris Scott, the principal and chief executive of Telford College of Arts and Technology, is to stand down from his post.
Mr Scott said the decision had been prompted by the ‘massive changes’ in the further education sector – and in his own role – since he took the job nearly two years ago.
He emphasised that this was a voluntary decision, and that he had not been placed under any pressure by the TCAT management team, or board of governors.
An interim principal will now be appointed while the future role of the college is decided in a review of post-16 and further education training centres across the Marches region, which is currently under way.
Mr Scott, 53, has been with TCAT for 20 years, having previously served as deputy principal, and finance director. He is stepping down with immediate effect.
He said: “It has been a privilege to work for Telford College, but the unprecedented cuts in finance to the further education sector, and the transformation this has forced us to undergo, has changed the principal’s job almost beyond recognition.
“I have talked the situation through with the board of governors, and we have agreed that the skill set which will be needed to take Telford College forward is not a skill set which I possess.
“I want to ensure the college thrives and continues to give the best vocational education in the future, and to achieve that most quickly I feel the best interests of everyone will be served if I step aside.”
Rick Tyrer, chairman of governors at TCAT, said: “I want to put on record how grateful we all are for Chris Scott’s service to Telford College of Arts and Technology, over 20 years.
“We wish Chris every success in whatever he chooses to do next. His relationship with the governors has always been one of openness, honesty and total integrity.
“His interests have always been those of the learners. The college has always come first with Chris, and we want to thank him for that.
“The governors have now put forward a plan for succession, and that will involve recruiting an interim principal.
“We are doing this because the pace of change within the sector is such that – particularly with the area reviews which are ongoing at the moment - the college needs to take stock of its position and await the result before we know precisely what skills we will need in a principal, going forward.
“The college will continue to serve its community throughout the whole of the process, and I want to reassure our learners that they continue to be the priority of this college, alongside the employers we work with to deliver apprenticeships.”
