Corporation News
Principal announces retirement
Dr John Blake, Principal and Chief Executive of Sussex Downs College and previously Eastbourne College of Arts and Technology since 1994, has announced his intention to retire at the end of 2010.
He said: “By the end of 2010, I will have been Principal of ECAT/SDC for over 16 years and will have worked in FE for more than 35 years. I will also, God willing, have passed my sixtieth birthday.
“I have hugely enjoyed my long stint in Further Education and it has been a great honour and privilege to have led the College and worked closely with such brilliant staff, managers and Corporation members to create such a large and successful organisation.
“I am immensely proud of SDC and all we have achieved together. However, as the College enters a new stage in its development, I feel it is right and appropriate to pass on the responsibility for this to a new Principal who will lead the College, I am sure, to even greater success.
“I would like to thank all colleagues and Corporation members, past and present, for all their hard work, commitment and support over many years. It has been a real pleasure to work with them in taking our College forward.”
Above: Dick Holste (left), student David Wheeler, (centre) and Dr John Blake (right).
Dick Holste, Chair of the Corporation of Sussex Downs College, said: “Under Dr Blake’s leadership, Sussex Downs College has become one of the largest and most successful FE Colleges in the country. It has over 16,000 students, 1500 staff, and with a turnover of £45m is one of the major businesses and employers in Sussex. Since John Blake was appointed the size of the College has grown by over 400%. We also have an enviable track record of success in recent years – including an outstanding OFSTED inspection, Beacon Status award by the Government, the Training Quality Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our work with employers and membership of the influential 157 group of large, successful colleges.
“I would like to thank John on behalf of the College Corporation, our staff and students and the community we serve for his exceptional and tireless work on behalf of the College. He has been an outstanding and inspirational leader. We will be very sorry to see John go after such a dedicated and successful career.
“The Corporation has begun the process of appointing a new Principal. We have every intention of selecting a new Principal who will carry on in John’s tradition and take the College to new levels of success.”
