Lowestoft College’s principal Gwen Parsons has officially announced she is to retire in August 2010.

Mrs Parsons joined Lowestoft College in 2002 making the move from Wolverhampton where she was Vice Principal at the city’s College. With a strong background in Education she has worked in the sector for almost 37 years and enjoyed a successful career, at colleges in England and Wales, taking on many different roles ranging from Maths Lecturer, Assistant Principal to Acting Principal.

During her time at Lowestoft College Mrs Parsons has worked hard to build the reputation of the College and increase the quality and range of courses offered in a bid to meet the needs of local people and the business community. Throughout her career she has been passionate about the role of education and training in changing people’s lives. Under her leadership Lowestoft College has developed Centres of Vocational Excellence in Offshore, Technology, Energy, Care and Construction. Lowestoft College is a founder partner in University Campus Suffolk with over 200 Undergraduates studying at UCS Lowestoft.

The College works with the voluntary and community sector at venues throughout Waveney. Young people from rural schools can now access vocational education at the North Suffolk Skills Centre in Halesworth and in Lowestoft the long term partnership work with local high schools has led to the development of a sixth form college which will open alongside Lowestoft College in 2011.

She has also played a major community role in the Chamber of Commerce, Waveney Economic Partnership, Waveney Local Strategic Partnership and represents FE colleges on a range of committees with other education partners.

Mrs Parsons said: “My decision to retire has not been taken lightly but I feel that the time is right for the College to have a fresh impetus so that it can become the outstanding institution that this community deserves. We have come a very long way together over the last eight years from being inward looking to outward facing. The renaissance of the College has been mirrored by the redevelopment of the town and the area. There are many exciting times ahead and I will be staying in the area in the immediate future and hope to be able to contribute in some way to realising Waveney’s ambitions. It will be good though to be able to spend some time with family and friends and rekindle the interests I used to fit into my life.”

Lowestoft College is now beginning the process of finding a replacement to take on the role of Principal when Mrs Parsons retires.