New principal welcomed at college aiming to expand

GOVERNORS at Rotherham’s College of Arts and Technology have welcomed a new principal after the previous head took over at a troubled institution in neighbouring Doncaster.

Gill Alton will also act as chief executive of the college after George Trow left to take over at Doncaster College, which has recently suffered instability and industrial relations problems.

Mrs Alton, who is from South Yorkshire, worked at Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education for 14 years, recently as acting deputy principal.

College governors said she started her career in further education in 1987 after a three-year spell in training and management in the private sector. She graduated in 1984 with a BSc in catering systems and graduated with an MSc in leadership and management in 2004.

A college spokesman said: “We are pleased to welcome Gill’s expertise to the organisation and look forward to the exciting changes ahead, including the new building developments taking place at the college’s town centre campus.”

Rotherham College operates from two sites, one on Eastwood Lane in Rotherham town centre and a second on Doe Quarry Lane, in the former mining village of Dinnington.

It has around 17,000 students registered on courses and employs around 700 staff. The new principal will be expected to increase attendance and the institution’s 22m annual turnover.

At present, the college is in the middle of a project to replace its three main buildings in the town centre and the scheme has been approved by planners at Rotherham Council.

The proposals seek to demolish some of the buildings making up the campus and replace them with a single building in a four-year project.

Mrs Alton, 48, said: “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to work with the staff to build on the college’s strengths and to further develop high quality services for current and future students.”

“I am passionate about the importance of good teaching and learning and the impact it has on student achievement.

“My focus will enable the college to deliver courses which will allow students to achieve their potential and fulfil their ambitions.”