Long Road Sixth Form College welcomes Angela Berry as new CEO

Angela joins The Sixth Form Colleges Trust from the Lighthouse Learning Trust, where she has served as Chief Executive Officer since 2021, bringing with her more than 25 years' experience. Throughout her career, Angela has held a variety of senior leadership roles across the education sector which has developed her expertise in SEND, inclusion, careers, student progression, and strategic partnerships. Her passion for creating outstanding opportunities for students and building strong, collaborative organisations makes her ideally placed to lead The Sixth Form Colleges Trust.

Mike Atherton, Chair of Trustees, said: “We are delighted that Angela has joined us to lead us forward into the next stage of our evolution.  Angela has huge experience in education, particularly in the sixth form sector, and is already an experienced CEO. We are very excited by what she will bring to the Trust."

Speaking about her appointment, Angela said: "I am delighted to be joining this exceptional Sixth Form Trust at such a significant moment in its development. It is a privilege to work alongside talented and dedicated leaders who share a passion for providing the very best education for our young people. With a clear sense of purpose, we will create opportunities for students, staff and communities to thrive. Together, we will build a Trust that is ambitious, inclusive achieving exceptional outcomes for all".

For our Long Road community, this change in leadership marks an exciting next step for the Trust, while maintaining core qualities that make our college such a special place. Our commitment to providing an outstanding sixth form education, supporting students to achieve their ambitions and creating a positive and inclusive learning environment remains at the heart of everything we do.

Angela will succeed our current Chief Executive Officer, Yolanda Botham, who many of you will know from her previous 6 years as Principal of Long Road. Throughout her career, Yolanda has been a champion of opportunities for young people and exceptional post-16 education. Her vision, commitment and dedication have been instrumental in shaping The Sixth Form Colleges Trust during its formative years, leaving a legacy for students, staff and the wider Trust community. All of us at Long Road would like to thank Yolanda for her exceptional leadership and the lasting contribution she has made to our college.

As we look ahead to the new academic year, we are delighted to welcome Angela to The Sixth Form Colleges Trust and are excited to work with her as she begins her journey as our new CEO. Together, we look forward to building on our strong foundations and continuing to create exceptional opportunities for young people across the Trust

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THE SIXTH FORM COLLEGES TRUST

Angela’s appointment represents an exciting new phase for The Sixth Form Colleges Trust, which was co-created by The Sixth Form College Colchester and Long Road Sixth Form College. The two colleges came together with a shared belief that we can be stronger, more resilient and more creative through collaboration. By pooling our resources, experience and specialist expertise in 16–19 education, the Trust aims to develop effective and innovative approaches that enable every student to thrive.

Inclusivity is central to our work, with a vision to create welcoming learning communities that reduce inequalities, nurture creativity and independence, and equip young people with the skills, knowledge and confidence to pursue their ambitions and contribute positively to the world around them.

As a partnership of specialist sixth form colleges, we are also ambitious about the contribution we can make to post-16 education across the Eastern region and beyond. We believe collaboration between our colleges, and with partners throughout the wider education and community landscape, is key to achieving this.

To learn more about The Sixth Form Colleges Trust, please visit: www.thesixthformcollegestrust.ac.uk