Central St Michael’s Sixth Form College – Campus Principal

Part of the Sandwell Colleges

Located in the heart of West Bromwich, we are a dynamic and high-achieving institution dedicated to providing an outstanding post-16 education. With a reputation for academic excellence, the College’s diverse offer enables students to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed for success in higher education and beyond. Our commitment to high-quality teaching, personalised support and a vibrant learning environment ensures that every student is empowered to reach their full potential.

This is a fantastic opportunity to champion A level provision and vocational courses at the largest provider of 16-19 study programmes in the West Midlands.

We are seeking an inspiring and visionary Campus Principal to lead our college into its next chapter, building on our success and driving continuous improvement.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record in educational leadership and a passion for student success. Working closely with the Executive Leadership Team of the Sandwell Colleges and our CEO Lisa Capper MBE, this role involves overseeing the strategic direction of the college, ensuring high standards of teaching and learning, and fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for all students and staff.

Dear candidate,

Campus Principal Central St Michael’s Sixth Form College

Thank you for taking the time to explore this candidate pack which we have developed to inspire exceptional candidates to apply for the role of Campus Principal at Central Saint Michaels Sixth Form, part of the Sandwell Colleges.

The Colleges have flourished over the last few years. We are the largest and one of the most successful in the West Midlands, and have a renowned reputation for delivering high-quality learning, excellent results and progression for our learners, and earned outstanding features in the last Ofsted inspection in 2022. We are proud of our recent track record. The next exciting phase of our development is to respond to the national, regional and local skills priorities and develop our expertise and specialisms.

Inclusion is an important part of work as we serve some of the most disadvantaged communities in England. Our ethos of inclusion and embracing diversity is paramount to our success in enabling all of our students to progress to the next stage of their career and life journey. Sandwell has a strong ethos and a set of values that put the learner at the heart of all we do and ensuring their preparation for the next stage of their career journey.

With three college campuses in Sandwell and Birmingham, and accompanying skills hubs in skills priority sectors, our colleges are well placed to ensure that every student has access to industry standard facilities and expertise, excellent technical and academic teaching, and a culture that enables learners to thrive and succeed in all they do. We are committed to inspire every school leaver, apprentice and adult learner to fulfil their ambitions and to be supported to succeed.

As an anchor institution in the areas we serve, we also recognise our duty to play a key role in developing the economic prosperity of the region. Our collaborative work with employers has impact and our plans in meeting skills needs are growing and providing specialism enabling young people and adults to excel in the workplace, or in further and higher education.

We are ambitious for our learners and have a further significant investment programme planned that will deliver further state-of-the-art facilities. These plans have included a recent launch of a brand new £6m science, technology and advanced engineering centre and we continue to move forward with our partnerships with the NHS and local universities to create a stand-out learning campus dedicated to training health professionals of the future.

Diversity is our strength and we are proud to have over 90 languages spoken at our college. Our health and well-being and enrichment programmes are second to none, ensuring every learner has access to the guidance they need within a safe and nurturing environment.

I joined the College in November 2024 and am hugely excited and inspired by the journey ahead. The Colleges are entering a brand-new phase of their development and the role of Campus Principal at Central Saint Michaels presents a rare opportunity to shape and support our next chapter.

The College is known for its A Level excellence and is located in an iconic, transformed art gallery campus. Celebrating a decade of success, the College develops critical thinkers and academic achievers, preparing them for leadership roles in diverse industries.

Our current Campus Principal is stepping down in summer 2025 and has done a superb job in establishing the University style sixth form and in growing its reach and success. As a result of his work, and that of his wider team, Central Saint Michaels represents an inspirational centre realising ambition and potential in an area of huge disadvantage.

As a member of the Sandwell Colleges Senior Leadership Team you would be supported by wider leadership and staff teams who are passionate in their relentless efforts to ensure that no student is left behind, that aspirations are raised and that any barriers to learning are overcome.

We have engaged FE Associates to support us with the crucial appointment. If you are excited about the prospect of working with me and colleagues in leading the Sandwell Colleges to achieve their next level of success, then please email Suzanne.Thurlow@fea.co.uk for an initial discussion. We would be delighted to hear from you.

Should you decide to apply, I wish you every success in your application.

Yours sincerely

Lisa Capper MBE
CEO/Principal