Before joining the College in 1993, I spent eleven years working in local secondary schools. My own children have spent happy and successful years at NEW College. This has given me a valuable insight into the demands and challenges facing young people when they make the transition from High School to NEW College.
‘Mine is the freedom of the tranquil hills,’ and in my spare time, I love nothing more than walking in the Lake District or skiing in the Alps. I am also an avid reader – when time allows!
Pauline Hagen – Principal
As Principal, I am responsible for ensuring the quality of your student experience with us. This means providing you with high quality teaching and learning and first class pastoral support to enable you to achieve your goals and develop lifelong skills, confidence and knowledge.
I lead a senior team who are passionate about making sure you get the very best out of you time with us. Each of them has a special responsibility for a different aspect of your “Learning Journey” – your move from school to college, the support and guidance you will need as you settle down to sixth form work, your experience in class and outside and the College campus itself. Your success is at the heart of our planning and we will ask for your views, and listen to them and act on them.
My career has included working at senior level in several sixth forms, with a brief spell leading on developing education in the prison service.
When not in college (or thinking about it!) I love the outdoor life, rowing, fell-walking, cycling and the English teacher in me means I love reading, theatre and films without subtitles! I’m looking forward to meeting you.
Richard Fletcher – Vice Principal Development, Innovations, Growth and Success
As Vice Principal it is my job to ensure students have an outstanding college experience from transition to progression and achieve their personal best. I believe a smooth transition from Year 11 to Year 12 is extremely important so bridging the gap between high school and college is a big priority of mine. With this in mind providing the right curriculum for students to progress onto is also something that I constantly review and aim to improve. In addition I am also ultimately responsible for the support and guidance that our students receive whilst at college. Prior to working at NEW College I was Assistant Headteacher at Castleford High School for 10 years, where I was responsible for whole school achievement. Out of college I spend most of my time playing rugby and helping to run a junior football team. For the record, from 1992-1994 I was a student at NEW College.
Leon Riley - Vice Principal Data, Performance, Quality and Success
I started working at NEW College in 2008. My role is to make sure the learning experience is of the highest quality. This encompasses auditing the whole learning journey to ensure that the outcomes at NEW College are outstanding. I work closely with the Heads of Department and our specialist teaching team to ensure that the experience at NEW college is enjoyable and successful. Prior to this role I worked at John Leggott College where I performed a number of roles. Out of college I enjoy playing football and spending time with my family.
Jo Vickers – Assistant Principal Curriculum and Achievement
I started at NEW College in September 1992 following a career in commerce and industry. I was Head of Business Studies from 1995 to 2002 and Faculty Manager for Business, Maths and ICT from 2002 – 2006. I love working at NEW College, our students are amazing, talented and hard working young people and the staff are dedicated and committed to getting the best from our students. The main focus of my current role is to develop the Curriculum and look at ways of introducing new courses which meet the needs of the current and future students. I also prepare the College timetable which is like doing a huge Sudoko puzzle! I am still involved in teaching and currently teach AS/A2 Accounting – still the best part of my job. Outside of college I am a big football fan having supported West Ham for years and I also try to attend the gym regularly and keep fit!
Carol Waterhouse – Director of Finance and Estates
I started working at NEW College in October 1992 as the College’s Finance Manager. I am a qualified Chartered Accountant and prior to joining the College I spent several years as an Audit Manager for an independent firm of accountants in Leeds. The main focus of my current role is to keep control of the College’s finances and assist the Senior Leadership Team in deciding how to make the best use of the funds and resources available. I feel fortunate to have benefited from excellent post-16 education myself and part of my job satisfaction comes from the knowledge that my work helps to provide the opportunities that will enable you to succeed academically and develop your potential as individuals. Outside of college I enjoy walking, cycling and trying to bring our rather overgrown garden under control.
Brendon Fletcher - Assistant Principal – Data, Quality and HR
One of my main responsibilities is to make sure that students and teachers across College have a clear sense of how students, groups and courses are performing throughout the year. It’s my job to make sure your performance is assessed frequently so that you and your teachers are given really helpful information that helps you set appropriate targets and which helps your teachers to provide valuable support. I’m there checking the numbers to make sure things are going as they should be. I’m also responsible for the new Firefly system – a one-stop-shop for you, your teachers and your parents to monitor your attendance, performance, teacher concerns and your achievements.
I’m also responsible for developing College standards – setting out what we expect of our students, and of our teachers. I’m part of the Quality Team – that means we look at what’s happening inside of your lessons and in your courses so we can be confident that you’re receiving great teaching. Your success depends on these key things: high standards and effort from you and outstanding teaching from your teachers.
Linda Maxwell-Smart - Senior College Manager - Quality, Standards, Data and Implementation
My focus is on ensuring that teaching and learning are excellent and continuously improving, in order that outcomes for students continue to be what they deserve and what they need for entry to university or employment. This necessarily involves scrutiny of department practices and the professional development of teachers. As a person ‘born and bred’ in Pontefract with relatives across the five towns, I am delighted that I am in a position to aid both the academic and personal development of young people in the local community, and indeed, beyond.
Since my arrival at NEW College in September 1991, I have performed a number of managerial roles, notably Head of English and Media Studies, Faculty Manager responsible for six subject areas, and Director of Teaching and Learning. Prior to this, I spent five years in North America after teaching English and performing pastoral roles in two secondary schools, in Manchester and Stockport respectively.
In my leisure time, I love the theatre, the cinema, shopping, dancing and, of course, reading.
Alison Sykes - Senior College Manager – Learner Services
As leader of the Learner Services team, it is my role to ensure that the quality of academic support the students receive is matched by the quality of support they receive to further their personal and social development and progression to university, further training or the workplace. The teams I lead are highly experienced and dedicated to helping each student as an individual whether this is in the form of careers advice, work experience, learner mentoring or counselling.
Before joining the College in 1993, I spent eleven years working in local secondary schools. My own children have spent happy and successful years at NEW College. This has given me a valuable insight into the demands and challenges facing young people when they make the transition from High School to NEW College.
Kristy Dixon - Senior College Manager Student Wellbeing, Support and Experience
As a leader of Student Wellbeing, it is my role to ensure that all student needs are met. I aim to ensure that a range of services to suit students health needs are available within College. My motto is that a happy student is a student who will succeed.The teams I lead are true professionals to ensure each student experience is a happy one, and that additional support is provided where necessary and required. I liaise with many professionals so that all health needs are met as well as organising college events linked with health, counselling, fitness, support and equality and diversity.Before joining NEW College I worked for seven years teaching across many colleges in Leeds.This position is my most valued, as the services we offer make that important impact on each student’s achievement whilst at college, which provides me great satisfaction. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family, socialising, shopping, running and horse riding.
Conor Stone - Senior College Manager - Performance Study
My focus is to help individual teachers and departments within the STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) to be the best they can. By doing this the Teaching and Learning within departments is improved and the learning experience is enhanced for our students. All this is to gain a win-win situation where students and staff can be recognised as having achieved their very best possible outcomes at NEW College!
Since my arrival at NEW College in 2011 as Head of Chemistry I have enjoyed leading a focussed and motivated team. Now in my position as Senior College Manager: Performance Coach (STEM) many of the practices implemented in chemistry are now in place across the STEM subjects.
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family – my two little boys keep me very active! I also enjoy a mixture of running, swimming and cycling and most years involve me setting myself a challenging cycling trip.
Lisa Guest - Senior College Manager - Performance Study
My NEW College career commenced as Head of Department in 2000, establishing the Law Department from day one! Since this time, I have enjoyed developing a thriving department and producing successful lawyers & teaching practitioners of the future. (Hopefully, the next Lord Denning!)
More recently, I have performed a greater cross-college role as Senior College Manager: Performance Coach. My role involves working with many departments across college, in order to develop and improve teaching, learning & assessment for students on all levels. I am passionate about exciting and inspirational teaching, and most of all, successful results. I aim to ensure that all students at NEW College have an outstanding learning experience. Remember, always aim high!
Outside college, my ultimate passion involves travelling the world, including; island hopping in Thailand, backpacking in Australia, surfing in Hawaii, and, shopping in LA & New York. Back in the UK, I enjoy live music, such as Queens of the Stone Age, whilst fastidiously keeping up-to-date with the criminal law.