Nelson and Colne College’s two new Assistant Principals are settling into their roles after being promoted to join the Senior Leadership Team.
Fionnuala Swann has taken up the position of Assistant Principal for the Academic Curriculum, stepping up from the college’s Head of Division for Business, Humanities and Languages.
Joining her in stepping up is Morag Davis who has taken up the role of Assistant Principal for the Technical Curriculum, having previously been Head of Division for Creative and Digital.
Fionnuala’s role will see her maintaining Nelson and Colne College’s position as a beacon for outstanding teaching, learning and assessment and ensuring A Level students receive the best learning experience possible. Morag will oversee the development of T Levels at the college, where NCC will take a leading position in helping to develop the new qualifications of the future – particularly as the college pilots Digital and Childcare from 2020.
Both of the college’s new Assistant Principals have progressed through the ranks during their time at the college, and are relishing the challenges ahead.
Fionnuala said: “I’m thrilled to take up the position as Assistant Principal and I’m proud of the career progression I have enjoyed during my time at NCC.
“I started at the college on a part time, hourly paid basis teaching Sociology before I progressed to Section Leader for Social Sciences. I was then later promoted to be the Head of Division leading a team of 23 teachers, two Curriculum Leaders and over a dozen different qualifications.
“I’m hugely passionate about education and I’m really looking forward to continuing my career at the college in a new capacity, shaping the college’s A Level provision and enhancing the college’s already outstanding reputation for achievement and excellence.”
Morag said: “I too am absolutely delighted to take up the position of Assistant Principal. My career has been solely education focused ever since I studied my PGCE at Nelson and Colne College through the University of Huddersfield and it’s an incredible opportunity to steer the college’s Technical Curriculum at an exciting time in the sector, with the introduction of the new T Level qualifications on the horizon.
“My experience includes having previously taught on both A Level and BTEC pathways, leading on projects on outstanding teaching, learning and assessment, working with the Department for Education on a national communications strategy group and writing for national subject journals and publications on a range of topics.
“Nelson and Colne College has been a fantastic place to enjoy a career and I’m looking forward to the next chapter.”
Principal Amanda Melton said: “I’m very pleased for Fionnuala and Morag and I’m extremely confident that the futures of both our Academic Curriculum and our Technical Curriculum are strong in a constantly-changing education environment.
“We have an exceptional calibre of staff at Nelson and Colne College and it is very much like a family. Fionnuala and Morag’s step up to our Senior Leadership Team really does highlight our focus on positive career progression. I look forward to working closely with them to further develop and evolve our outstanding offer, which currently sees us placed as the number one college in the country for 16-18 learner achievement.”
In its 2017/18 results, NCC achieved a 99% pass rate at A Level and a 99.6% pass rate in advanced vocational courses.
The college is top in the country for 16-18 learner achievement at all levels, number one in the country for A Levels, based on progress scores, and the number one college in the country for overall Apprenticeship achievement at all ages and levels.
Government data also places NCC as the best college in the area for vocational courses, based on progress scores, while it is also the best college in Lancashire for student satisfaction, according to the FE Choices Learner Satisfaction Survey.
For more information about Nelson and Colne College visit www.nelson.ac.uk or contact the Admissions Team on 01282 440272.
