Thank you for your interest in the post of Principal and CEO of Morley College London. I’m delighted that you would like to find out more about our remarkable college. We are looking for a new leader who will build on the considerable achievements of our current Principal and CEO, Dr. Andrew Gower, who is leaving in April to take up the post of Vice-Chancellor of Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln.
I am very proud to be Chair of the Governing Body of a college like Morley with its distinctive ethos and values. Morley is a place of strong social values, creativity and a shared commitment to meeting the needs of students and its diverse communities. It is an inspiring place to learn, grow and work.
You will be joining the College at an exciting time – following the successful merger in 2020 with Kensington and Chelsea College, (expanding our provision to young people aged 16-18), a very positive Ofsted inspection in 2023 and the prestigious Gold award in the Teaching Excellence Framework. In 2025 we will be coming to the end of our current strategic plan and you will have the opportunity, with the Board of Governors to really make your mark, shaping the College’s development and taking it forward to the next phase.
The College is in a very positive position but we are also conscious of the challenges the sector faces and we are highly motivated by how much more there is still for us to achieve. On this journey, you can be confident you will be building on the College’s many successes over recent years.
We are looking for a candidate with an outstanding professional track record and a passion for high quality education coupled with a strong affinity for the College’s ethos, and the ability to inspire a collaborative culture of continuous improvement. You’ll live and breathe our mission and values and will have a clear picture of what you want to achieve.
I hope you find this site useful and please do contact our advising consultants at Anderson Quigley for an informal and confidential conversation.
I look forward to meeting you.
Kind regards
An overview of the role from Leisha Fullick, Chair of Governors at Morley College London, please watch the video below or on Youtube.
Morley College London was founded in 1889 by Emma Cons, an artist, social reformer and suffragette, to provide lifelong educational opportunities for diverse communities in London. It is one of the UK’s oldest and largest specialist providers of adult education. In 2020, the College grew, through a merger with Kensington and Chelsea College, to serve the communities of North Kensington and Chelsea (including young people aged 16-18). In 2023, Morley was awarded the prestigious Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). This recognition, awarded by a panel of academics and students with expertise in learning and teaching, signifies outstanding student experiences and outcomes.
Morley aims to meet the learning needs of a growing number of students (studying at many levels, up to and including Higher Education), and to be a force for public good within its communities. Strategic oversight of the College is provided by a skilled, diverse and committed Governing Body, working closely with the exceptional Senior Leadership Team. Governors are supported by an experienced and professional governance team.
The College’s strategic goals are:
Our mission, inspired by our founding principles of social justice, is to empower individuals and strengthen communities through the transformative impact of lifelong learning.
Our vision is to be a leading London college where learning together inspires ambition and enables achievement.
Our values are a shared set of ideals by which we work as a college community; they define our college culture and are reflected in the behaviours and actions of staff in pursuing our mission, recognising that at all times we are accountable to our students and the communities we serve.
Our students include:
You can find out more about the College by visiting:
You can view our Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 July 2024 here.
Morley College London Equality, diversity, and inclusion statement
Our belief in the infinite possibilities of all commits us to challenge discrimination of all kinds, implicit, explicit and systemic. Morley College London will challenge under-representation at all levels throughout the College and will provide focused developmental opportunities to support the progression of knowledge, skills and experience. This is the heart of inclusion, encouragement and support for all of those who work with us in any given capacity.
Notwithstanding the challenges of representation, all people should have the opportunity to thrive and achieve their full potential within a Morley environment characterised by equality of respect and opportunity. We commit to support all people including and yet not limited to protected characteristics.
We commit to a zero-tolerance approach to bullying, discrimination and harassment.
Our equality priorities:
Our legal duty is protection from discrimination or harassment on the basis of nine “protected characteristics”: age; race, including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin; sex; sexual orientation; gender reassignment; being married or in a civil partnership; being pregnant or on maternity leave; religion or belief; and disability.
Morley College London believes in providing a learning environment that welcomes and supports all people without exception and therefore promotes inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity for all, beyond just in relation to protected characteristics. As such, we welcome people regardless of economic class, health and wellbeing or other life factors that could carry stigma or stereotypes such as employment status, residency and asylum, ability in language. HIV status etc.
Our aim is to reduce inequality between those who have more and those who have least.
Our College values:
Our values are our statement of how we work as a College. At Morley how we work is as important as what we do, as we are committed to maintaining a strong, supportive, friendly culture where people can flourish. We put our students first and to do this we:
Harassment, discrimination and bullying are not tolerated in any form and we support the challenge and reporting of negative behaviours to ensure our values are consistently lived. Equality, diversity and inclusion are everyone’s responsibility and we expect all colleagues to demonstrate their commitment to these principles.
Morley College London Anti-racist statement:
We are anti-racist. We understand that to be anti-racist requires reflection, change and action. We will challenge racism of all kinds and in all contexts. We encourage recognition and respect of the identity, background and history of every individual. We will acknowledge where lessons must be learned.
We are committed to effecting real change, to challenge societal, systemic and endemic racism. We encourage and support all our students, staff and partners to join us in this endeavour. As a dynamic and diverse learning community, Morley College London is committed to realising the positive impact of learning for all.
Anderson Quigley is acting as an advisor to the College. An executive search process is being carried out by Anderson Quigley in addition to the public advertisement.
The closing date for applications is noon on 17 February 2025.
Applications should consist of:
Should you wish to discuss the roles in strict confidence, please contact Paul Aristides at paul.aristides@andersonquigley.com or Carolyn Coates carolyn.coates@andersonquigley.com or +44 (0)7825 871 94.
Important information
Morley College London is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children at all times. As such we undertake safeguarding checks on the suitability of all prospective staff, including their online presence and social media accounts. It is a requirement that all successful candidates disclose all social media platform accounts that they hold.
Morley College London is an Equal Opportunities employer. The College aims to reflect the diverse community it serves and welcomes applications from suitably qualified candidates from all backgrounds.
Closing date | 17 February |
Longlisting | End of w/c 17 February |
Preliminary interviews | w/c 24 February |
Shortlisting | w/c 3rd March |
Final panel | TBD |