The award-winning head of Gateshead College has shocked the education sector by retiring with immediate effect.
Judith Doyle has revealed that she will be stepping down as principal and chief executive officer of Gateshead College after six years in the role.
Last month Gateshead College revealed it was launching an internal investigation after it discovered a £6m black hole in its accounts.
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A team of forensic accountants has been commissioned by the college’s governors to find out what has caused the “unplanned deficit”.
Once the deficit was discovered, the college re-modelled its budget and created a new three-year financial plan, which it is working to deliver with the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) and the FE Commissioner.
A spokesman said that Ms Doyle had planned to retire at the end of the academic year but has brought forward her plans to allow the college to deliver its three-year plan.
Deputy principal Chris Toon will now lead the college as acting principal.
Commenting on her decision to retire, Gateshead College’s chair of the board of governors John McCabe said: “We are really sorry to see Judith retire and are very proud of her many achievements at Gateshead College. I know I am joined by the board, her colleagues from across the college, the FE sector and wider North East region when I say she’ll be greatly missed.
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“Gateshead College means everything to Judith. She has worked here for such a long time and her dedication, strength of leadership and sense of team has had a huge impact on the college, her staff and colleagues and the thousands and thousands of students that have passed through the doors on her watch.”
Ms Doyle started at the college as a student before becoming a part time English teacher. She then moved on to work as deputy principal before taking the top job in 2013.
During her time in charge, she has overseen a dramatic change in the organisation, improving the college’s Ofsted rating from satisfactory to outstanding. It now secures some of the highest student achievement rates in the country.
Her achievements led to her being awarded the TES FE Leader of the Year title in 2016 before receiving a CBE in 2018.