New College Durham principal and former Association of Colleges president John Widdowson has been appointed chair of the WEA.

Mr Widdowson replaces Sir Trevor Philips, who stood down from the position of chair of trustees in July. Mr Widdowson has been principal of New College Durham for 19 years, and is also chair of the Mixed Economy Group of Colleges. He was president of the AoC from August 2015 to July 2016.   

‘Make a real difference’

He said he was “really pleased to be appointed chair of the WEA”. “As a national organisation dedicated to promoting educational opportunities for adults, the WEA is in a unique position to make a real difference to the lives of many thousands of adults,” he added.

“The WEA has a rich history and an unrivalled network of students and members, which gives it a strength and a presence that few, if any, can match. It has the capacity to reach out to individuals and communities others find difficult to engage. I look forward to working with everyone at the WEA to create a better world through education.”

Ruth Spellman, chief executive of the WEA, said: “We are delighted to have John as chair. He brings a wealth of experience in FE, HE and in delivering excellent education without fear or favour. John personifies WEA values of being open and inclusive, and we are all excited at the prospect of working with him.”