New head at college

Janak Patel will take over from Sue Middlehurst on January 1.

Mr Patel is currently Principal at Royal Forest of Dean College. Mr Patel joined in 2006 as vice principal with responsibility for Education and Skills. He was appointed principal in December 2008.

Prior to that Mr Patel worked at South Birmingham College as Director of Higher Education and Diversity and as a manager and lecturer in two other colleges in Birmingham. Earlier in his career he worked as a mathematics teacher in a secondary school in Nottingham.

Mr Patel commented: “I am delighted to be joining Sussex Coast College Hastings and very much looking forward to working with the local community, employers, schools and the college team to build on their successes. Sue Middlehurst, governors, managers, staff and other stakeholders must be particularly proud of the work done in ensuring learners have access to some of the best facilities in the country, in which to learn and train.”

Chairman of the Corporation, Kenneth Melsom, said of the governors’ appointment: “I am sure that Janak will build on Sue Middlehurst’s remarkable achievements and lead the college on the next stage of its journey to
‘outstanding’.