New principal and CEO for group running Shrewsbury colleges
A new principal and chief executive has been appointed at the group running Shrewsbury's two colleges.
James Staniforth has been appointed to the role by Shrewsbury Colleges Group, which is made up of Shrewsbury Sixth Form College and Shrewsbury College.
Mr Staniforth will take over from interim principal and CEO Lyn Surgeon after Easter 2017.
He will join the colleges group from the "outstanding" Strode College near Glastonbury, where he is currently the principal.
The colleges merged earlier this year to create the group, but still as separate institutions.
A statement from the colleges group said he would bring "substantial experience of the education sector" including senior roles within sixth form and further education colleges.
Mr Staniforth said: "I am absolutely delighted to be joining Shrewsbury Colleges Group and to have the opportunity to work with the staff, governors and the community to move the college to the next stage post-merger.
"SCG has many unique strengths which will enable us to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the ever changing world of further education."
Mr Staniforth added: "I am absolutely committed to making SCG a centre of academic and vocational excellence and to develop a regional and national reputation for our work".
Meanwhile, the principal of North Shropshire College has left her post.
Jackie Doodson, who was also chief executive, has left the college after two and a half years.
It comes after it was announced the college, which has campuses in Oswestry, Walford, Shipley near Bridgnorth and on the Herefordshire border, has formed a federation with Reaseheath College in Cheshire.
