Chair of Corporation

Chair since April 2008, Stephen Caswell's priorities are to work with the Principal and executive team to build on the College's success, improving the quality of the student experience and outcomes for our students.   

The largest further education college in Surrey, the Guildford College Group has a broad range of courses on offer across Guildford College, Merrist Wood College and Farnham Sixth Form College. At the College's Ofsted inspection in May 2009, which covered all three colleges, the Group was awarded a Grade 2 Good. The journey towards excellence is underway.  

The Further and Higher Education sector seems to be in a permanent state of change and reform. In response to demand and changes in sector funding the College is developing its vocational and academic curriculum for 14-19 year olds, building progression routes to higher education and employment, making changes to how we deliver some of our provision, and working with local employers and partners to provide employment-related education and training to meet local and regional skills needs.  

"My main priorities will be to help put in place sustainable strategies for continued growth and quality improvement within a challenging economic climate, and to develop a capital investment strategy that will serve the College into the future in the face of reduced government capital funding for the sector."  

Stephen Caswell also holds non-executive posts at the Royal Surrey County Hospital and Surrey Association for the Visually Impaired. He was previously a partner with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Hong Kong and China.