THE new principal of Abingdon and Witney College has been revealed.

Jacqui Canton will take over as both principal and chief executive from September.

She is currently deputy principal at the college and will be taking over from Di Batchelor, who was recently awarded an MBE in the 2020 New Year Honours list.

The principal will be stepping down from the post in August and retiring, having spent 39 years in the adult and further education sectors.

Abingdon and Witney College is based at three main sites in Abingdon, Witney and Common Leys Farm near Hailey.

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Chairman of the governing board Gavin Maitland-Smith said: "We are delighted to have chosen Jacqui to succeed Di as Principal of the College.

"We were lucky to receive a number of high-quality applications for the role."

He added: "The application and interview process gave us the opportunity to meet and engage with a high calibre field and we were grateful to all the candidates for their hard work and interest in the role."

At the end of the process, the board unanimously agreed that Canton was the 'best placed person to take the college forward'.