THE PRINCIPAL at South Gloucestershire and Stroud (SGS) College will be leaving to take up a new position at Warwickshire Colleges Group as their Group CEO and College Principal.

Sara-Jane Watkins has worked at SGS, and Filton College for 22 years, progressing from director of corporate Planning in 2001 to College Principal in 2015.

The college's most recent Ofsted inspection saw it graded good with outstanding features. 

Matt Atkinson, chair of Governors at SGS said: "I am delighted for Sara-Jane to step into her first CEO role, a significant achievement for anyone in the Sector.

"It will, of course, be a loss for SGS as she has been an outstanding college principal and has worked tirelessly through COVID, overseen considerable growth and maintained continuous improvement in the quality of everything we are doing here.

"On behalf of the College Corporation, I would like to put on record our thanks and appreciation for everything Sara-Jane has done for the College and we wish her every success in her new role.’

Kevin Hamblin, SGS Group CEO said: ‘Sara-Jane was one of my earliest appointments when I was appointed into my first CEO role at Filton College.

"I have watched, and supported, her career as it progressed and every promotion has been met with an enthusiasm and drive.

"It was therefore only a matter of time before Sara-Jane made this move and I know she will be a success at Warwickshire Colleges Group.

"SGS is in a very good place because of Sara-Jane, and the staff Sara-Jane has been responsible for managing, and I wish her well as she embarks on a new challenge."