Sandwell College

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Principal

Sandwell College Lisa Capper

Lisa CapperLisa joins Sandwell from Stoke on Trent College where she was instrumental in transforming the quality of provision and financial health, securing significant partnerships and profile for its continued success. This included national awards for learner voice, £20m capital and an increase in enrolments and achievement. Its ‘Skills Ready Future Ready’ strategy, the sector-skills hubs, and dynamic partnerships meant that 96% of young people progressed to positive destinations. Prior to this she was Director and Principal of Nacro, the national social justice and education charity, turning it around to Ofsted Good in 2019, creating a respected voice and campaigns on issues relating to disadvantaged young people such as the ‘Learn Without Limits’, and a national youth-voice Knife Crime report. Prior to Nacro she was VP in an Ofsted Good Further Education (FE) College group and ED of a successful Academies Trust.

Lisa was a senior civil servant in FE in the Departments for Education and Business for over 10 years leading on the ‘Skills for Life’ campaign, National Skills Academies and CAVTL (commission on adult education), and the prestigious Worldskills London 2011. In 2024 she was a finalist for Woman of the Year Awards, putting FE in the spotlight.

In January 2021, she was awarded an MBE for Services to Young People.

https://www.sandwell.ac.uk/news/sandwell-college-is-delighted-to-announce-the-appointment-of-its-new-ceo-and-principal/

https://feweek.co.uk/sandwell-college-announces-new-principal-after-eight-month-delay/
Previous Principals/CEOs

Graham Pennington

Graham PenningtonThere is no biographical profile of the Principal on the College's website. This one is from Graham's LinkedIn profile.

I successfully led the College through inspection achieving an Ofsted grade of good an improvement from the previous satisfactory grade.

I have successfully restructured the college creating a learner focused environment and improved efficiency allowing funds to be targeted to supporting students and improving financial stability.

The College is undertaking a number of exciting new developments including

  • Expansion of its apprentice programme
  • The development of a Fablab
  • Creation of our new skills and careers academies

I have also improved the marketing of the College with the development of improved schools links and prospective student links.

I have improved stakeholder relationships and community links.

I successfully opened FutureSkills a new multi-million pound development at MediaCityUK. I led the Skills Division of the College.

I was Deputy CEO at Salford City College. I led on resources management including strategic developments.

I am a PRINCE2 qualified practitioner

Specialties:

  • Education management
  • Business development
  • Strategic planning
  • Project management
  • Financial management
  • Education training
  • Developing partnerships and business relationships
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