Principal and vice principal abruptly leave roles

Tyne Coast College has sites in South Shields and Wallsend

Two senior staff at a further education college have temporarily left their posts, the BBC understands.

Staff at Tyne Coast College, which has sites in South Shields and Wallsend, were told on 23 June that principal Mandy Morris and vice principal Diane Turner would not be available for the "foreseeable future", as first reported in FE Week.

The University and College Union (UCU) said it had learned of the news on the same day. "We have no further information," a spokesperson said.

The college said it was an "internal staffing matter" and it would not be appropriate to comment further.

It confirmed police were not involved.

Last year, 19 jobs were cut at the further education college halfway through the academic year due to budget cuts.

The college enrolled about 9,700 students in 2023/24, which includes 16-18-year-olds, apprentices, adult learners and international students.

It was formed in 2017 following a merger between South Tyneside College and Tyne Metropolitan College.