A SOUTHAMPTON college has announced the new principal to take the reins at the end of the academic year.

Alice Wrighton, who has been at the helm of Richard Taunton Sixth Form College, on Hill Lane, for 10 years, will retire when term ends and will be replaced by her deputy, Dr Liz Lee.

During her time at the college, Alice was instrumental in securing Richard Taunton’s long-term future by securing strong partnerships and, most recently, academising and forming a multi-academy trust partnership with St Vincent College in Gosport.

Under Alice’s leadership, the college has seen a significant increase in the number of students securing places at university and developed a strong reputation for its ‘whole person’ approach, promoting social mobility through high-quality teaching and individual support, and securing excellent progression opportunities.

When Liz takes over, she will become the head of college, a new title “aligned to the multi-academy trust structure”.

She will work alongside Matt Atkinson, head of college for St Vincent College, in Gosport, which formed a mutli-academy trust partnership with Richard Taunton’s.

The type and level of responsibilities will remain the same.

Reflecting on her time at Richard Taunton, Alice said: “The desire to do all I can to promote the well-being, personal development, academic success and progression of every student has motivated me throughout my time in education, and I have loved my job.

“It’s the many remarkable individual success stories of students that give me the greatest satisfaction.“These successes are always the result of joint efforts involving students and very dedicated teaching and specialist support staff.“I’ve also hugely enjoyed the opportunity to recruit and develop talented and inspirational teachers and leaders, and I’m very happy to be leaving the college with a very strong team already in place.”

She added: “Liz has extensive experience in leadership and management, exceptional local knowledge, and is passionately committed to securing the very highest standards in teaching and learning as well as student support and outcomes. “I am very confident about the future leadership and direction of Richard Taunton and wish Liz every success in her new role.”

Having started out teaching history at Priestlands Secondary school in the late 1970s, Alice has gone on to work in leadership roles at various colleges across the county, including Barton Peveril College.