The Corporation Board is responsible for the governance of Shrewsbury College and works to ensure that the college delivers its Strategic Plan, fulfils its charitable purpose and provides high-quality education and training for the communities it serves.
The Board's role is strategic rather than operational. It provides leadership, oversight and constructive challenge to support the long-term success and sustainability of the college.
The Board's Key Responsibilities
The Corporation Board is responsible for:
- setting and periodically reviewing the college's mission, educational character and strategic direction;
- approving the college's quality strategy and monitoring educational performance;
- ensuring the effective and efficient use of resources and safeguarding the college's assets;
- maintaining the financial sustainability and solvency of the college;
- approving annual budgets and significant strategic investment decisions;
- overseeing risk management, internal control and corporate assurance;
- promoting high standards of governance, integrity and accountability;
- appointing, supporting and holding the Principal/CEO to account for the performance of the college;
- appointing the Clerk to the Corporation (otherwise known as The Governance Professional) and other designated senior post holders; and
- ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory and funding requirements and
- overseeing delivery of the college Strategic Plan.
How the Board Adds Value
The Board supports the college by:
- monitoring performance against strategic objectives;
- providing constructive support and challenge to senior leaders;
- evaluating its own effectiveness and governance performance;
- promoting equality, diversity and inclusion;
- supporting sustainability and responsible stewardship of public funds;
- supporting the college’s work with stakeholders and for the community it serves.
Contacting the Board
Governors can only be contacted through the Clerk to the Corporation.
Tracy Cottee
Clerk to the Corporation
Email:
Postal Address:
Shrewsbury College
Welsh Bridge Campus
Shrewsbury
SY1 1RX
Shrewsbury College as a Corporation and Exempt Charity
Shrewsbury College is governed by a sixth form college corporation established under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.
The Corporation is both:
- a statutory corporation created by that legislation; and
- an exempt charity whose charitable purpose is the advancement of education.
Every college has charitable status (for the charitable purpose of advancing education) and so is subject to the requirements of the Charities Act. Further education (FE) corporations and sixth form college (SFC) corporations are classified as 'exempt' charities (Schedule 3 to the Charities Act 2011). An exempt charity has charitable status and is required to comply with charity law, but unlike other charities, they are not regulated by the Charity Commissioners but by a separate regulator – in the case of further education and sixth form corporations, the Department for Education (DfE).
What is the Corporation?
The Corporation is the college's governing body and legal entity.
The college itself is not a separate legal organisation from the Corporation. The Corporation has its own legal identity and is responsible for:
- setting the strategic direction of the college;
- ensuring effective use of public funds and resources;
- safeguarding the college's assets and charitable status;
- overseeing educational performance and quality;
- ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and
- supporting delivery of the college's Strategic Plan.
Governors act collectively as members of the Corporation in carrying out these responsibilities.
Instrument and Articles of Government
The Further and Higher Education Act 1992 requires every college corporation to operate under an Instrument and Articles of Government.
These documents set out:
- the Corporation's constitution and membership;
- how governors are appointed;
- the duties and powers of the Corporation;
- governance procedures and decision-making arrangements; and
- the respective responsibilities of the Corporation, Principal/CEO and Governance Professional.
A copy of the college's current Instrument and Articles of Government can be found here.
Further Information
More information on exempt charities is available here.
This explanation is required under Paragraph 72 of the Office for Students.
Become a Governor
If you would like to know more about the work of the Board and are interested in becoming a governor, please contact the Clerk for more information or complete the application form via the button below and send it to the Clerk at the address above.
Student Governors
Student engagement is vital to the work of the Board when it comes to improving the quality of teaching and learning and the student experience and indeed wider governance issues in relation to the college. Our Student Governors are full members of the Corporation Board and play an important role in the governance of the college. They are not appointed as representatives or delegates of the Student Council or any particular group of students.
Our Student Governors bring valuable insight into the student experience and contribute to the Board's understanding of matters affecting students, educational quality and the wider college community. Their perspective helps inform strategic discussions and decision-making across a broad range of issues. Our Student Governors work constructively with fellow governors, senior leaders and the Student Council to ensure that learner perspectives are understood and considered as part of effective governance and decision-making. Find out more about the role of a Student Governor.
Governors
Governors
Joycelin Hoyland
Chair of Board
Joycelin is the Safeguarding Link Governor.
Matthew Hartland
Vice Chair
Matthew is currently the Chief Executive of an NHS Trust in the Black Country. He is a qualified accountant and has been a board member of the NHS for over 10 years, in roles that included chief finance officer, chief operating officer, and chief executive.
Mike Thompson
Vice-Chair Designate
Mike joined the Board in November 2019. He is a former Parent Governor (London Road Campus).
Philip Adams
Independent Governor
Philip is the former Headteacher of The Corbett School, Baschurch. He has worked in education for over 30 years and has an extensive background in education and education management.
Prof. Julian Barratt
Independent Governor
Julian is a clinical academic nurse practitioner who is the Regional Faculty Lead for the Centre for Advancing Practice and Midlands Regional Faculty Lead for Advancing Practice with NHSE Workforce, Training, and Education, an Honorary Professor in the College of Health and Life Sciences at Aston University, and also volunteers as a nurse with a charity, Festival Medical Services.
Jess Black
16 – 19 Student Governor
Dan Blasczyk
Staff Governor
Dan has over 15 years of experience in student-facing roles in FE in the areas of student services and student engagement. He has a wealth of knowledge of EDI, safeguarding, enrichment, mentoring, events management, and student voice. As well as being a staff Governor, he is a member of the college EDI working group as an ambassador for race and religion.
Rob Harrison
Independent Governor
Rob has over 40 years of experience working in the FE sector, undertaking various posts from Lecturer to Executive Manager/Consultant, specialising in MIS and IT Systems Management.
Jaimin Jethwa
Independent Governor
Jaimin is Senior Sustainability Manager, Disclosures and Circular Economy, BP PLC. He has a career spanning 20 years, including roles in Strategy, Management, Engineering, Operations and HR and has worked for multinationals in more than 15 countries with people from all corners of the world.
Laura Milatos
Staff Governor
Laura Milatos is the Admissions Team Leader at Shrewsbury College. She is responsible for overseeing admissions processes across A Level, vocational, higher education and adult provision. With nearly two decades of experience in the further education sector, Laura has developed a broad and comprehensive skill set across Admissions, Marketing, Safeguarding, Quality and Apprenticeship Assessing. She is also an active member of the college’s Safeguarding Committee.
Emma Musgrove
Co-opted Member of the Quality, Standards & Curriculum Committee
Emma is Head of Business and Stakeholder Management Department for the Flood and Coastal Risk Management Directorate, overseeing the Environment Agency Board governance and Flood and Coastal Risk Management Committee groups. She has extensive experience in senior leadership positions.
Marion Pavitt
HE Student Governor
Andrew Prichard
Independent Governor
Andrew is a Retired Consultant Otolaryngologist/Head & Neck Surgeon. He spent considerable time in hospital leadership at Board Level and as Acting Chief Executive. He has extensive experience of working in and understanding the public sector, with over 43 years of NHS service. He is a member of the Quality, Standards & Curriculum Committee.
Andy Rao
Parent Governor
Andy has over 30 years of experience in marketing, 20 of those running his own agencies. He now consults plus heads up the marketing of Shropshire Council's fostering service.
Colin Sharp
Independent Governor
Colin qualified as a Chartered Accountant over 45 years ago, retired as a full-time Finance Director in December 2024 and now works as a Fractional CFO for a number of UK businesses, particularly in the manufacturing sector. He is a trustee and honorary treasurer of the Friends of Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital and is a trustee of Share Shrewsbury, an alcohol education charity. Colin is Chair of the Audit Committee and is the Health and Safety Link Governor.
James Staniforth
Principal & CEO
Marches Local Enterprise Partnership Representative.
Elizabeth Stroh
Co-opted Member of the Audit Committee
Elizabeth is Group Head of Regulatory Governance at OSB Group. Her professional experience includes engineering, ecological research and, for the last 20 years, finance.
Laura Taylor
Parent Governor
Laura has over 20 years of experience in HR, working across the NHS, the global energy sector and education. She is currently the Director of HR of a growing multi-academy Trust within Shropshire.
Paula Tucker
Staff Governor (Support)
Paula is the Progression Specialist for our Creative Arts and Media students, based at our English Bridge Campus.
Janine Vernon
Independent Governor
Janine has extensive education sector experience, incorporating both learning and skills. In addition, to experience as a teacher, she is a former post-16 learning and skills lead working with 11-18 schools, colleges, and training providers across Shropshire.
Policies, Documents & Minutes
Governance Policies
- pdf Instrument Articles of Government Popular
- pdf Standing Orders Policy Popular
- Governance Documents
- Minutes of Finance & Business Operations Committee
- Minutes of the Audit Committee
- Minutes of the Board
- Minutes of the Meeting of the Search Committee
- Minutes of the Quality Standards & Curriculum Committee
Corporation and Committee Organisation and Membership Chart from 1 August 2026
BOARD Membership = All Governors | ||
FINANCE AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS P. Adams |
R. Harrison | QUALITY STANDARDS AND CURRICULUM P. Adams |
SEARCH & GOVERNANCE R. Harrison | REMUNERATION P. Adams | |
Governor Links – J. Barratt – Higher Education, R. Harrison – EDI & SEND, J. Hoyland – Safeguarding & PREVENT, C. Sharp – Health & Safety and J. Vernon – Skills & Careers.
Co-opted Committee Members – E. Musgrove (Quality, Standards & Curriculum) and E. Stroh (Audit).
Nominees to Radbrook Foundation – M. Thompson and J. Staniforth.
The Determination of the Corporation is 19. There is currently 1 vacancy (1 x Appointed Governor).