Ian Browne

Background

About Ian Browne

I have over 34 years experience in further and higher education, starting out as an Electrical Science Tutor at East Birmingham College in 1989, to Vice Principal at City of Wolverhampton College. I have spent many years leading and supporting curriculum teams/divisions/campuses/colleges as well as having significant experience in leading whole college staff in quality assurance; particularly focusing on teaching, learning, assessment and performance management. I have significant experience within quality and curriculum areas and I feel that one of my key strengths is to lead, motivate and inspire staff and students. All my teams focus everything they do, around the learner/customer. I have led and managed outstanding teams and taken underperforming teams, to good and to outstanding. I find that I am dedicated to my work, which I regard as both a vocation and a career. I am enthusiastic and always strive to introduce new ideas and a fresh approach in my work. I have proven that I have the ability to adapt to any role and have experienced numerous Ofsted inspections during my career, the latest being in January 2023, where the College achieved a 'Good' grade. I have also led divisions/campuses/colleges through four culture changes at four very different colleges. I continue to work hard with enthusiasm and try to be the very best at whatever I am responsible for. For example: total funding in 2016/17 before I started at the College was £25.8m. In 2021/22 the College’s total funding was £31.3m and projection for 2022/23 is £35.3m. This £9.5m increase/improvement over 5 years has been predominantly down to a substantially improved curriculum offer, working closely with employers and partners to ensure the curriculum intent meets the needs of local and national priorities. Within the same period, overall achievement rates have increased from 84% to 90%, with City of Wolverhampton College being recognised as the top college for 16–18 year-olds in the West Midlands following the last published NARTs in 2018/19.