College group appoints new chief executive

Sara-Jane Watkins said she was "honoured and excited" to take on the role

A group of colleges in Warwickshire and Worcestershire with with more than 10,000 students has appointed a new chief executive.

WCG (Warwickshire College Group) is made up of six colleges in the two counties, offering courses across engineering, horticulture and land-based specialities.

It is also the largest college provider of apprenticeship training in Coventry and Warwickshire, with up to 1,700 apprentices.

Sara-Jane Watkins, currently principal at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, said she was "honoured and excited" to be taking on the new role.

"With over 20 years of experience in further education and five years at a land-based college, I bring a deep commitment to advancing the educational opportunities for both our rural and urban communities," she said.

“My dedication to education has always been driven by the belief that every student deserves access to high-quality learning experiences, and I am eager to continue this mission at WCG."

Gill Clipson, chair of the corporation for WCG, said: “We are looking forward to maintaining the high quality of our provision and the strong reputation which we have established as Sara-Jane leads us through the next stage of development for WCG, focused on excellence in all we do and serving the needs of our local communities.

The group runs Royal Leamington Spa College, Rugby College, Warwick Trident College, Moreton Morrell College, Evesham New College and Pershore College.