Southampton City College Principal set to leave for the Falklands

Southampton City College Principal Sarah Stannard is resigning from her position to pursue a career as director of education for the next four years.

It comes just days after Ms Stannard confirmed the college is unsustainable on its own and needs to become part of a larger organisation.

• 'Stuck in limbo': City college's plea as damming report says it has no money and growing debts

A report from the Further Education Commissioner said that without help debts racked up by the college would not be paid, and it would become insolvent.

Sarah Stannard - Principal of City College Southampton - is set to resign in the summer

"The college is currently financially unsustainable and is unlikely to be able to standalone, even if significant savings are made," the report added.

This is despite the college receiving additional funding from Westminster since 2018 to enable it to operate solvently.

The principal said leaving would be "a wrench" as she has enjoyed working with colleagues and those studying at the college.

She said working and living on the Falkland Islands has been "a long-held ambition" since visiting in 2008 and 2012.

She will continue in her post until the summer holidays. She said that "when this opportunity arose she felt that this was the right time to move".

The college's board of governors is already working on finding her successor, who will come in before Ms Stannard leaves.

Geraint Davies, Chair of the Corporation at City College, said: "Over the past nine years, Sarah has made a huge contribution to City College and has become a very well-respected voice in the city as a whole.

"She has always demonstrated huge resilience, clear thinking, and a wish to “get the job done.

"I wish her all the best in her new role as Director of Education for the Falkland Islands."