New principal for SJD (From Northwich Guardian)

New principal for Sir John Deane's College

11:00am Sunday 16th September 2012 in News By Gina Bebbington

THE new leader of a Northwich college has high aspirations to catapult it into the top three colleges in the UK.

Kerry Kirkwood started her new job as the principal of Sir John Deane’s College at the start of this academic year, taking on the reins from former principal Andrew Jones.

She said: “We’re currently in the top 10 colleges in the country and I believe we should be in the top three.

“We have got to get even more aspirational, for our young people particularly.

“I think there’s lots of things we can do.”

Kerry, formerly deputy principal at Blackpool Sixth Form College, has worked in five colleges across the north west.

She explained it was the reputation of Sir John Deane’s College that drew her to her new role.

“The gold standard of the name attracted me so it was an easy choice for me to leave a place I enjoyed to come here,” she said.

“It’s a dream come true for me.

“I have a huge responsibility to the college in terms of representing it nationally, I want to make sure the name remains gold standard in the sector but I also want to invest in the student experience and what matters to them.”

She plans to be accessible and approachable to students, who have already impressed her.

“The college has great staff and some of the most engaging young people I’ve ever worked with,” she said.

“I’m very much committed to the strategy of ‘gifted and talented for all’ and am always striving to help the students achieve plus one grade ahead.

“If someone comes in estimated at A we want them to get A*.

“But underpinning all that is a huge amount of support – they’re driven academically but underpinning that is support, care, encouragement and belief.”

The college is holding an open evening for prospective students from partner high schools from 5.30pm to 8.30pm on September 27.