Principal leaves Peterborough Regional College with immediate effect

The principal of Peterborough Regional College has left his role with immediate effect.
Terry JonesTerry Jones
Terry Jones

Former RAF fighter pilot Terry Jones had been in the top role at the city college since 2015 - however today it was confirmed the college was looking for a new principal.

The decision comes a year after the college was slammed by Ofsted, when it was given a rating of ‘requires improvement.’

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Mr Jones has also been the CEO at the college, and will leave that role at the end of the year after the board and Mr Jones agreed ‘a different skill set’ was needed at the facility.

Ian Jackson, Chairman of the Board of Governors, Peterborough Regional College said: “Terry Jones has served as Principal and CEO of Peterborough Regional College (PRC) since July 2015, during which time the College has grown its income sustainably, acquired a new subsidiary company (CTS Ltd), created the iMET Centre in collaboration with Cambridge Regional College and won significant funding for the University project.

“Although our achievement rates have risen, the Board and Terry are in full agreement that a different skill set is now required to accelerate and deepen those improvements. For that reason, it has been mutually agreed that Terry will leave PRC at the end of this year and that he will stand down as Principal immediately to support transition to a successor at the earliest opportunity.

“We are very grateful to Terry for the energy and passion that he has brought to the College over the last 3 years and for the significant achievements made during his time as Principal. Peter Walker, currently Vice Principal of the College, will become our Acting Principal while we recruit for a new leader of the College, a process we will begin immediately.

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“Peter has worked as a senior manager in the further education sector for 22 years. For the last 11 years he has successfully led the College’s business support systems and been responsible for the College’s finances.

“Peter’s main focus over the next few months will be on driving forward our curriculum and quality improvement plan. Improving student success rates is central to our future success – much has already been achieved through our OFSTED improvement plan, but there is always more to do.

“Our plans for the new University Centre are not affected. We will continue to work alongside Anglia Ruskin University, the Local Authority and the Combined Authority to create an independent University Centre for Peterborough by 2025. Significant progress has been made in the last twelve months and the University project will be making some very positive further announcements shortly.”

The last Ofsted inspection at the college took place in May last year, when inspectors said the overall grade was the college requires improvement.

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The report also said the Effectiveness of leadership and management; Quality of teaching, learning and assessment; Personal development, behaviour and welfare; Outcomes for learners; 16 to 19 study programmes and Adult learning programmes and Apprenticeships all required improvement.

The only section rated as ‘good’ was Provision for learners with high needs.

Ofsted inspection for colleges rated as ‘requires improvement’ take place every one or two years.

Before joining Peterborough Regional College,Mr Jones was a Royal Air Force officer, and spent much of his military career as a Tornado pilot and instructor with operational experience in Iraq, Oman and Afghanistan. In his last military appointment, Terry delivered all aviation training for the armed forces and was responsible for the Red Arrows.