TGt Meets...Bath College's Principal

In our latest TGt Meets interview, we've been speaking to Laurel Penrose Principal of Bath College!

Could you tell us some background information about your life and career before you started at Bath College?

Before joining Bath College in 2016 as Principal and Chief Executive I worked in the Further and Higher Education sector for 15 years. I started as a part time lecturer in Community Education teaching GCSE law, gained a permanent lecturing role in a Further Education College in the Midlands and then eventually into management, taking the lead on a wide range of vocational and technical subjects. I am a member of the Education and Training Foundation Expert Panel for Leadership and sit on a number of national and regional boards for education and health and wellbeing.

What are three best things you think you've done since you've become Bath College's Principal?

• I have worked hard to improve the financial stability of the College at a time when Further Education (F.E) is critically underfunded. There is still further work to do, but I am so pleased with the progress we've made.
• It was wonderful to be graded 'Good' by Ofsted in 2017. All our staff pulled together to showcase the excellent work that goes on here, and to have it formally recognised was a real achievement.
• When I came to Bath College it had only just gone through the merger of City of Bath and Norton Radstock Colleges. Something I've worked hard to do is to develop the culture and the campuses to see ourselves as a united team, making us a single College of which we are all proud of.

What is the biggest challenge you've come across since starting?

The biggest challenge of my role has undoubtedly been finances. Over the last ten years funding for the F.E. skills sector has declined dramatically (for example a decrease of 45% for Adult Education). Unfortunately, the lack of Government funding and complexity of funding regulations restricts what we are able to do and who we are able to reach and support, this in turn restricts the local economy, as the College is central to the technological skills development in the region. I get frustrated, as I know there is so much we could do in the re-skilling and up-skilling of adults which would enable both individuals and employers to prosper. We have excellent staff who, again due to the lack of funding, aren't fully appreciated financially.

What is the most rewarding part of being a principal?

There are two things that I find the most rewarding. First are the students - seeing the difference Further Education and this College makes to their lives. We have a wide range of students, from those who haven't thrived in complusory education who came to college and gain confidence, skils and qualifications and secure a bright future, to mature students who are re-skilling and up-skilling to progress and succeed in their careers or to secure a change of career.

The second most rewarding part is working with such talented colleagues.

What do you view as your most important contribution to the daily operations of Bath College?

My most important contribution is working to build the College community. Communication is the key, walking around the campuses, taking a genuine interest in everything that is going on, saying "hello" and building a relationship with colleagues, actively listening and being open and having truthful conversations about the diffculties we experience and progress we are making.

How do you empower teachers to be leaders?

At the College we empower teachers to be leaders by encouraging innovation through a culture of mutual respect and having honest conversations, helping them realise their potential and recognising their accountability. We know our staff's expertise and support their development, working together towards clear common aims and priorities whilst simultaneously striving for excellence and enabling independence.

Describe your vision of an effective college?

It's all about being excellent at what we do and maintaining high standards. We are an educational establishment so our priority is learning and enabling students, of whatever age and completing whatever course, to achieve their full potential. It's about focusing on students and ensuring they are motivated and inspired to do their best. Education is not just about qualifications, although they are important, they are just a part of a career and development jigsaw. Life skills, employability skills, talent and personal growth are other aspects of the college that we aim to cultivate; a total package of learning and development makes an effective college.

Supporting this is the relationships we build within our community. Working with employers to build a successful curriculum and delivery offer, ensuring their needs are met for the current and future staffing needs. Working with other stakeholders, for example parents, charities and Local Authorities to ensure we offer the right support, help grow our community and enhance the working and living environment in which we live.

What attracted you to Bath College?

Bath is a lovely place that I was instantly drawn to. From the interview process I really felt the warmth of the staff and could tell it would be a great place to work. Another attraction was the potential of the College - there were lots of opportunities to grow and improve, for example the recent merger. I was eager to take on the challenge and help the College to realise its own possibilties.

What are some ways you have dealt with challenges, and how did you find solutions?

I am a solutions focused person, so if I'm given a challenge I will sort it by taking the steps necessary. I know that I don't have all the answers and so it has been paramount to build an excellent team of managers and staff throughout the College, as I need their expertise and value their input. I like to take a pragmatic and logical approach, taking small steps to build solid foundations. I have found that prioritising helps as you cannot do everything at once, often having to make hard and difficult decisions. I find looking at the bigger picture and the wider FE sector helps me face challenges head on for the good of Bath College.