Lowestoft Sixth Form College merged with East Coast College in 2018, combining their academic offer with the already established vocational expertise of East Coast College. East Coast College now boasts the broadest range of qualifications and training in the area and at all levels. Keith is delighted to step up to the challenge of integrating Lowestoft Sixth Form College and maximising choice and opportunity for the region’s 16 to 19 year olds.
Keith brings a wealth of local knowledge and teaching experience to the role, having started his career at Benjamin Britten High School in 1985. When Lowestoft Sixth Form College opened its doors in 2011, Keith took the role of Faculty Head of STEM and Sport and was later promoted to Assistant Principal.
Of his appointment as Principal Keith said: “I am delighted to be given this opportunity to lead such a successful college. I’ve inherited some fantastic staff and wonderful students. I’m sure the remarkable success of the last four years will be maintained as I continue with the student-focused ethos; that happy students bring great results.
“For the last two years the college has been rated in the top 3 sixth form colleges in the country and it’s an incredible opportunity to now work with the wider East Coast College to provide a curriculum that matches local requirements and provides a first-class education to local students, of all ages, to degree level!.”
Staff and Students are thrilled with Keith’s appointment as the new Principal. Keith is a very popular member of staff and the current students and past students love him. In 2018 Keith came runner up for the prestigious Gong at the TES Further Education Awards after being nominated by his colleagues for ‘Teacher of the Year’. The awards celebrate excellent and innovative practice across the further education sector.
Stuart Rimmer, CEO and Principal of East Coast College said: “We are thrilled with Keith’s appointment to lead the Sixth Form College. Keith has been an integral part of the delivery of outstanding results for our students in the past and has a great deal of innovative ideas for delivering an even better student experience in the future. As the East Coast College family, we now have a high-quality provision that meets every students’ needs whether academic, technical, life skills or higher education (degrees). We are the only college in our sub-region that can do this. Under Keith’s leadership, I am sure that our students in the sixth form will thrive and I know staff are pleased about this appointment.”
There’s an exciting future ahead for the region as East Coast College and Lowestoft Sixth Form College maximise choice and opportunity to the community.
This September prospective students will be able to combine A Level study such as Maths and Physics, alongside vocational Engineering subjects. The new Energy Skills Centre due to open Oct 2019 at the Lowestoft Campus focuses on developing skills for the regions energy sector.
Stuart Rimmer says: “The college continues to bring on new courses, in addition to new courses in the sixth form for September we have a new sea cadet programme launched alongside new degree-level study in Art Therapy, Wildlife Management, plus Practical Life Sciences and Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship. There really is something to suit everyone at East Coast College.”
