Senior Leadership Team

The College has a highly experienced Senior Leadership Team, bringing with them a wealth of skills and knowledge. They are all passionate about ensuring we offer our students the very best teaching and learning experience. Led by the Principal, Michelle Brabner, the team have a friendly and approachable style, are highly visible around the college and always happy to meet with parents or students.

Principal

Michelle is Principal and Chief Executive of Southport College and KGV Sixth Form College, a position she took up in March 2020. Preceding this Michelle was the Deputy Principal at Runshaw College from January 2015 and Assistant Principal at Ashton Sixth Form College prior to that, with earlier curriculum leadership roles at Bury College and Bolton Sixth Form College.

Before qualifying as a teacher in further education, Michelle’s career began in Liverpool working in medical research at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. Michelle holds a Masters degree in Zoology (through research) from Leicester University and a BSc in Biological Sciences from Plymouth University. Michelle also supports the work of His Majesty’s Inspectorate, acting as an Ofsted Inspector.

Vice Principal

Mark Burrows joined us as Vice Principal in January 2023. Prior to commencing this role, Mark was a Director of Curriculum across a large further education college group and has previous experience of working in high performance sport.

He believes in continuous personal improvement and being a lifelong learner and has recently completed a Level 8 Chartered Management Institute (CMI) programme focusing on strategic direction and culture of organisations which accompanies his MSc in Sport and Exercise Physiology.

Mark is passionate about delivering learning programmes which provide the best experience, whilst also facilitating personal and career progression for every learner. Mark has a proven track-record of leading, designing and delivering outstanding innovative curriculum solutions to a wide range of stakeholders within the further education and commercial sector.

Mark's role in the College is to oversee:

Curriculum
Teaching & Learning
16-19 Study Programmes
Adult Learning
Apprenticeships
HE

Director of Finance and Facilities

Kevin joined as the Finance Director in March 2021. He qualified as an accountant in 1993 and has a wealth of experience as a senior leader across, the education, health, social care, housing and regeneration sectors.

Since joining the FE world in 2014, Kevin has provided permanent and interim consultancy support in many colleges, indeed he has been Finance Director/Vice Principal at Knowsley Community College, Wigan & Leigh College, Craven College and West London College, as well as Interim Principal at Harrogate College.

Kevin is committed to seeing young people and adults achieve their potential and plays a key part in that goal. In his spare time he enjoys sports, particularly football and rugby union and his hobby is pursuing this family history, which he has discovered is highly addictive!

Kevin oversees the following areas:

Finance
Estates and Facilities Management
Health & Safety
ICT
Data Systems
Business Development

Assistant Principal: Student Experience and Welfare

Stephen joined the college as Assistant Principal in March 2021, after six years as the Head of Studies at Runshaw College. Prior to this Stephen was Head of the Creative and Digital Industries Department at Warrington College and also spent eight years as Programme Area Leader at Cronton Sixth Form. Stephen was a professional dancer before entering Further Education and completed his degree at Bretton Hall (University of Leeds) and his Master’s degree at the University of Malta.

Stephen is the College’s Designated Safeguarding Lead and oversees all aspects of:

Careers Guidance
Conduct & Safeguarding
Marketing
Progress
Learning support

Assistant Principal: Quality, Teaching and Learning

Victoria joined us in the post of Assistant Principal in August 2021 and prior to this, accumulated over 5 years’ experience leading Curriculum and Quality in Further Education as a Director of Quality and an Assistant Principal. She started her career in post-16 education as a teacher of ICT and Computing in 2003 and over her 18 year career she has gained experience in 2 Outstanding providers in the North West. Victoria is passionate about education and a believer in life-long learning, completing her own Masters in Education in 2018.

Victoria's role is to oversee:

College Planning
Quality Assurance
Quality Improvement
Self Assessment
Staff Development
Teaching & Learning
T-Levels
HE

Assistant Principal: MIS and Apprenticeships

Paris joined the College as Assistant Principal in January 2022, after a year and a half as the Head of MIS & Registry at Plumpton College. Prior to this Paris was the Associate Dean of MIS at Highbury Burton Saudi Arabia and also spent 8 years at Highbury College as a Student Records Lead, Apprenticeships Progression Officer and Data Analysis, plus various other support roles.
Paris is a firm believer in Further Education and the knowledge and skills Apprenticeships can bring being a former apprentice himself when he started his career in further education.

Paris is responsible for overseeing: