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News: Nottingham College appoints new CEO and Principal

Please note: This news story may contain information that is no longer current or up to date.
Janet Smith

In a week in which we celebrate International Women’s Day, we announce that Janet Smith (nee Meenaghan), an experienced CEO and Principal with 35 years in the education sector, has been appointed as new CEO and Principal of Nottingham College.

Janet joins us from Inspire Education Group where she is currently CEO and Principal of the merged New College Stamford and Peterborough Regional College.

Her experience incorporates many years teaching across both FE and HE sectors, and as a manager overseeing many aspects of curriculum including apprenticeships, academic and vocational learning, plus degree and masters programmes. 

Her career spans seven different FE colleges and having delivered curriculum and quality improvement as a senior manager in three of these institutions she became a Principal and CEO in 2015

She oversaw the successful merger of New College Stamford and Peterborough Regional College in 2020, to form the now Inspire Education Group. In the Group’s latest Ofsted monitoring visit report from just over six months ago, the group was seen to be making significant progress in all areas listed. 

The decision to appoint was taken after a thorough selection process and Chair Carole Thorogood said in announcing the appointment: 

I’m delighted to be welcoming Janet to Nottingham College as our permanent CEO and Principal. Her fantastic track record in the sector, coupled with her knowledge of our college and our city, makes her an exceptional appointment and I am very much looking forward to working with her to continue to develop and embed the improvements needed to ensure Nottingham College delivers excellence in education and employment in Nottingham. 

Martin Sim, who has been our interim CEO and Principal since May 2021, will continue to remain with us for the next couple of months, providing leadership stability during this crucial point in the academic calendar and to ensure a smooth transition and handover for Janet who looks set to join us before the end of this academic year. I offer my sincere thanks to Martin for his excellent stewardship over the course of this last 10 months. 

Carole Thorogood — Chair, Nottingham College

Janet is very much looking forward to joining Nottingham College to oversee its continued improvement journey. She said:

I am a passionate advocate for further education, having been a student of FE myself. The opportunities we create for learners, from all backgrounds and walks of life, are what make this sector such a proud and important one for our economy. I am very much looking forward to joining Nottingham College, and working within a city with such high aspirations for its residents and its young people. The College has achieved much, but there is more to do and I’m thrilled to be joining at such an exciting time. 

Janet Smith — Newly Appointed CEO and Principal, Nottingham College
Published on:
  • 11th March 2022 (10:30 AM)
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