New man leads ‘flagship’ college
THERE’S a new man in charge of Rochdale Sixth Form College.
Richard Ronksley has been appointed to replace Julian Appleyard.
Mr Appleyard, who stood down in February, oversaw the opening of the college in 2010 and was the driving force behind it becoming one of the most successful sixth forms in the country.
Mr Ronksley, who has worked in senior roles at several colleges and also as a further education inspector at Ofsted, said he felt ‘very lucky to have joined such an amazing college’.
He added: “I am thrilled and honoured to have started as principal. Rochdale Sixth Form College is an exceptional college with an exceptional mission. It is both a flagship for what sixth form colleges should be, and for what they can do: providing an excellent education for students from diverse backgrounds so that they not only meet their potential, but fulfil their promise. It is my pledge that as principal I will cherish and build on everything that makes RSFC so special, so the college can be the very best it can be.
“It was always my intention to use my experience at Ofsted to make a practical and direct improvement to the lives of young people in a college. I can think of no better place to apply this knowledge and these skills than to the further development and success of Rochdale Sixth Form College.
“As you can imagine, I feel very lucky to have joined such an amazing college. RSFC students are talented, tenacious and polite; RSFC teachers and support staff are highly skilled and dedicated professionals.
“As a result, students at RSFC consistently perform at the highest level and exceed their target grades. It’s little wonder that the college has a national reputation for excellence, with ministers and policy makers regularly referencing us as an example of the very best practice in the sector.”
Since opening the college has gained a glowing reputation. It was the only institution to have gone from being a new build to gaining an outstanding Ofsted grade at the first inspection.
Over the last four years the college also has topped the Department for Education performance tables for A-level progress.
Speaking when his departure was announced last year Mr Appleyard, who left to take up a role in his home town as CEO of the Pontefract Academies Trust, said: “It has been a tremendous eight years and my decision to move on was a very difficult one for me as I have a real affinity for the borough. The development of the college from a hole in the ground to the reputation the college has nationally and locally makes me immensely proud.”