New principal for struggling college
PRINCIPAL of KGV College in Southport Adele Wills is set to leave this summer and be replaced by her vice principal.
From June Anne-Marie Francis will assume the role of Acting Principal.
Ms Wills term as principal has been mired in controversy, with the number of pupils at the college plummeting from 1,530 in 2012 to just 652 this year.
The college was rated “inadequate” by Ofsted in November 2014. The last inspection in December saw the college rated as “requiring improvement”.
When questioned the college refused to tell the Visiter the reasons for Ms Wills departure and if she had voluntarily resigned or had been asked to leave.
Julian McInerney KGV Chair of Governors said: “The Governing body is unreservedly in support of Anne-Marie believing she will take the College forward with enthusiasm and determination, providing students with a high quality local Sixth Form Education Centre.
“Anne-Marie joined the College in June 2015 as Vice Principal and has been an inspiring and driving force in rapidly moving the College forward in its journey back to its rightful place as an outstanding College.
“Anne-Marie has considerable experience in the education sector and has already instigated and realised many changes at the College. She is wholeheartedly committed to the long-term future of KGV and her innovated and unwavering approach will ensure this ambition is realised.”
No mention was made of the work done by Ms Wills over the past few years, no tribute upon her departure.
Anne-Marie Francis said: “I feel privileged to take on the role as Acting Principal. Staff and students here are inspiring and achieve excellent examination results.
“Seven of our current students have secured offers from Oxford and Cambridge, and it is our mission to ensure all KGV students realise their aspirations for progression to Higher Education and employment.
“There has never been a better time to come to KGV, be part of our student journey and enjoy the fantastic education we have to offer to young people. The College is well positioned for a strong future and I look forward to being a part of that future.”
Gareth Hollyman, whose son Carlos is in the upper-sixth, and who had another son at the school from 2012-14, spoke of his relief at the end of the tenure of Ms Wills, who he said was “the worst Principal of the college in living memory.”
He said: “The whole community used to be proud of KGV until Ms Wills arrived. From day one when she cancelled the ‘end of year’ awards ceremony, this Principal antagonised everyone from teachers and pupils – who staged a series of protests – to parents and local feeder schools.
“Education is a people business and if you are unable to get on with people, you will not succeed. Her strategy ultimately led to falling morale, falling standards, falling numbers and a complete loss of faith in the college which will now very likely have to merge to survive.”
Local councillors have spent the past two years supporting parents, staff and students at the college as they saw the number of courses reduced, several experi- enced members of staff leave and student numbers dip alarmingly.
Southport Lib Dem councillor Tony Dawson said: “Adele Wills took over KGV College at a time when the winds of change in Further Education were becoming increasingly turbulent. However, under her leadership, KGV has gone from tailspin to nosedive. The student numbers do not lie.
“If there was ever an example of the need for an education institution to have local accountability, this was it. Although the Board of Governors was strengthened significantly last year, this was too little, too late.
“The damage had already been done.
“What is needed now is careful thought about how to restore KGV’s fortunes.
“The caretaker management needs support from the town.
“A town of the size and importance of Southport needs a major viable quality sixth form centre which is accessible to local teenagers.”