A BASINGSTOKE college has announced its new principal following the sudden retirement of its former leader after 16 years at the helm.
As previously reported, Lorraine Heath took on the role of acting principal at Basingstoke College of Technology (BCoT) in February, following Anthony Bravo's departure.
Now, the college in Worting Road has announced that Ms Heath has officially been appointed after a 'rigorous and transparent' interview process.
Ms Heath, who began her BCoT journey in 1997 in corporate services, later qualified as a teacher in 2001.
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From there, she worked in various teaching and curriculum roles before taking the reins for apprenticeships and employer engagement in 2011.
As the deputy principal for business, she played a crucial role in broadening the apprenticeship offerings at BCoT and bolstered the number of learners and employers involved in these programmes.
In her more recent role as deputy principal for curriculum, performance, and innovation, and with five years of experience as an Ofsted Inspector, Ms Heath showed the interview panel that she has the national expertise and local insight to lead BCoT.
Mike Howe, chair of governors, said: “Lorraine has been a cornerstone of BCoT for almost 30 years. For the last seven years, she has served with incredible dedication and distinction as our deputy principal.
"During the rigorous and transparent interview process, it became clear that Lorraine’s deep understanding of our college culture, combined with her bold vision for our future, makes her the perfect person to lead us into this next chapter.
"No one understands the heart of this college better than Lorraine, and we are thrilled to see a homegrown leader take the helm.”
Ms Heath said: “I am delighted to be named principal of BCoT, a place that has been my home for nearly three decades.
"I’ve seen the college grow and change over the years, serving thousands of young people from our community.
"I look forward to continuing that positive momentum and delivering high-quality education opportunities that directly equip our students with the specific skills our local economy and community need to thrive.”
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