Newcastle College is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Principal, as it prepares to welcome students for the new academic year.
Jon Ridley, former Deputy Principal, will now lead the North East’s largest college and anchor education institution.
With more than 20 years of experience in further education, Jon joined Newcastle College in 2016 as Assistant Principalt, before moving to the role of Deputy Principal in 2021.
Over the last three years, Jon has led the College’s higher education provision, delivered through Newcastle College University Centre. Under his leadership, the College became the first in the FE sector to secure Taught Degree Awarding Powers on an indefinite basis, ensuring it can continue to develop and deliver Honours and Masters degrees aligned with the skills needs of the region.
He has also played an instrumental role in investing millions of pounds into cutting-edge facilities and learning environments for students.
Jon commented: "I am very proud to be the new Principal of Newcastle College. I am passionate about the transformative power of education and about creating a learning community and environment that supports individuals in achieving their very best.
“As Principal, I am looking forward to leading our talented team of colleagues as we continue to build on the important work we do with learners, employers and communities in our region.”
Newcastle College is the region’s largest further and higher education college, supporting more than 12,000 learners every year. Its focus is on equipping learners with the skills and experience they need to succeed in the world of work, and its curriculum is developed in partnership with industry to meet the needs of employers across the North East and beyond. It is one of seven colleges that make up NCG, the country’s largest college group.
CEO of NCG, Liz Bromley added: “I am very pleased to appoint Jon as Principal of Newcastle College. This was a robust recruitment process and Jon’s extensive experience and successful track record stood out amongst some excellent candidates. I am confident that under his leadership the College will continue to respond to and support the local people, employers and stakeholders in the North East.”
Following Jon’s appointment, Alan Fenton will join the Newcastle College leadership team as Deputy Principal.