Dr Janet Nevin will retire at the end of April after almost 10 years in post.

During her time at the college, she has overseen the college’s most successful period of results, achieved national recognition for the college and seen thousands of talented students’ progress.

Dr Nevin started her career in London and then in Sunbury where she taught English to 11-18 year olds in two comprehensive schools. By the age of 25 she was already Head of English in a boys’ school but then decided to go back to her roots in the North West becoming Head of English and Head of Sixth Form in a school in St Helens. She then progressed to Holy Cross Sixth Form College in Bury where she worked for 14 years as Assistant Principal, overseeing Students Services and then as Deputy Principal.

“The time came when I realised that, after 10 years as Deputy, I should face my next challenge and applied to Ashton Sixth Form College for the job of Principal.” Dr Nevin said.

“I was absolutely delighted to get the job and I can honestly say that there has never been a day where I felt that the job wasn’t worthwhile. It has been a challenge but I have always felt that the young people and adults in Tameside are worth a huge investment of anybody’s time and effort and I have been privileged to serve the community in Tameside for nine years.”

Keith Trelfa, chair of governors at Ashton Sixth Form College said “Over the past 9 years under Janet’s leadership the college has gone from strength to strength becoming the first choice of students in Tameside and surrounding areas who wish to aspire to higher education. Janet is an outstanding teacher and Principal who is respected by all who know her. Her vision and hard work led to the creation of the A+ Trust which is dedicated to the improvement of educational standards of Tameside students. Janet will be sorely missed by everyone at the college and we wish her a long and happy retirement.”

Dr Nevin will be missed by all of the staff and students who will give the Principal an official send off on her last day Friday 29^th April 2016.

Dr Nevin further commented “I have found our students here to be amazing: funny, intelligent, caring, thoughtful, ambitious, and talented and it has been my pleasure to get to know some of them well, whether it be in student council meetings or doing mock interviews or travelling to Uganda with them.”

“It has been a huge privilege to work with so many fantastic staff; they too, like the students, have been amazing and it has been wonderful to work with such talented people. I have been fortunate, privileged and thankful to have ended my career at Ashton Sixth Form College.”

Anton McGrath has been appointed as the new Ashton Sixth Form College Principal and will start at the beginning of May.  Anton is currently the Principal of the highly successful and nationally acclaimed Sixth Form College in Huddersfield - Greenhead College - and is returning to Ashton Sixth Form College having worked there 8 years ago as an Assistant Principal.

Anton said “I’m thrilled to be appointed as Principal of Ashton Sixth Form College. I’m pleased to be reacquainting myself with the college after a break of almost eight years building on the successes of my predecessor, Dr Janet Nevin. It’s an exciting time to be back in Tameside and I’m looking forward to working with talented and dedicated staff, governors and students.