New Blackburn College chief begins role

Dr Fazal Dad, who was announced as Blackburn College's next principal and chief executive, has officially taken up his position.

He joins an organisation troubled by struggling finances, job losses and low Ofsted rankings.

Fazal was previously deputy principal at Walsall College, which is currently graded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted and holds the accolade of being the first General Further Education College to receive the grade under the most recent inspection framework.

He has previously worked at Stourbridge College for ten years as a lecturer, head of department and then assistant principal. He also worked at Herefordshire and Ludlow College as Deputy Principal.

As a reviewer with the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), Fazal was part of the team that reviewed Blackburn College in its Higher Education Review in 2015. He holds two Masters Degrees and a PhD in Leadership and Management from the University of Worcester.

Fazal said: “I am looking forward to making Blackburn my home and working with partners across the region to fulfil Blackburn College’s mission of transforming students’ lives and our community, through outstanding education, training and support.

“I am a firm believer in the concept of lifelong learning. I am student-centred and am passionate about setting high expectations for the College, its staff and students and ensuring the delivery of high-quality teaching and learning.”

The appointment was made following a selection process involving students, staff, key local stakeholders and businesses and the College Corporation Board.

Phil Watson, chair of the Corporation Board, said: “Fazal is a product of Further Education having trained to become an Electrical Engineer at Stourbridge College in the 1980s and will bring more than 25 years of experience in the Further Education sector to Blackburn College when he takes up the position.”