Case Studies: Colleges and Universities

The challenge

Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I Sixth Form College engaged TES Prime to help them appoint a new principal due to the retirement of their current principal.  As an Outstanding institution according to Ofsted, and as a large and successful sixth-form college with an enviable reputation, the corporation believed that engaging recruitment experts to reach a range of potentially strong candidates was the obvious thing to do.  For quality and reach into the market; TES Prime demonstrated the strongest method into the market.

We were asked to find a candidate that demonstrated an ability through experience for: ensuring the continued viability and success of the College at a time of funding reductions and new government initiatives; improving Value Added measures; taking a proactive approach to leading the teaching and support staff, many of whom are very experienced and have been at the college a long time; and to ensure that all the teaching and learning strategies encompass the most up to date technology and support systems to encourage independent learning.

How we helped

• In sticking close to the brief which included a long list of ideal qualities, TES Prime sought candidates at the highest/strategic level in a very large successful educational establishment (not necessarily, but preferably, as a principal). 
• The ideal candidate would need to demonstrate key characteristics necessary for taking a proactive lead in blending the traditional values associated with a long established educational establishment (Wyggeston) with the more recent changes (QE) in teaching methods (and especially the use of technology) whilst working within the constraints imposed externally on resources.

The result

Wyggeston was of course delighted to be able to appoint at the first time of asking.  TES Prime’s particular strength and contribution in being able to reach across to sixth-form colleges, FE colleges, schools and other educational institutions ensured that the corporation had real choice at shortlist and final panel in determining both the candidate’s background, experience and their blend of skills.  An experienced principal and one of our search candidates was appointed – though the strength of the field meant that the client had another credible choice candidate.