The Isle of Wight College is delighted to confirm the appointment of Ruth Acton as the Head of the new F6RM. Ruth will now lead the development of the curriculum for the new sixth form which is due to open in September 2010. Debbie Lavin, Principal of the College, confirmed her delight in Ruth’s appointment. “Ruth is an experienced A level Teacher with a wide range of subject specialisms. She has an excellent track record of securing outstanding student success and has some exciting and innovative ideas for student enrichment. Best of all, Ruth was able to demonstrate at interview her commitment to student support that is vital to this College’s success. She puts student first, which of course is fundamental to our mission here. I am delighted she has chosen to join us and I feel very positive that with Ruth leading the F6RM we will be able to secure the levels of high performance and success from our staff and students we have come to expect at the College.

Following an exhaustive interview process, and on finding out she had been successful Ruth said she was excited and overwhelmed to find out she had been chosen and that she considered the position “the opportunity of a lifetime”. She went on to present her vision, describing her hopes for the sixth form to be “a warm, inviting, secure yet exhilarating environment where students can explore and fulfill their educational aspirations.” She also commented “It is always a risk moving jobs but but having met with staff at The Isle of Wight College I know this project means so much to everyone, it will have huge support from a team of people who want it to succeed. The College already has an outstanding report from Ofsted and knows how to encourage students to do the best they can to succeed. I see no reason why this positive stance cannot be applied to the new sixth form. I see it as more of a challenge than a risk because I believe it will become an outstanding sixth form where students will receive the best education possible. The challenge will be to create an excellent track record for the sixth form.”

Ruth was born in 1972 in North Wales. She was educated at The University of North Wales Bangor and at Derby University, where she graduated with joint honours in English Literature and Religious Studies followed by a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. Later Ruth completed a Masters Degree in Computer Science. She spent nine years teaching English and Religious Studies in Burton-on-Trent where she became a Head of Year and then Head of Department. Ruth moved to teach in Tamworth in 2004 as Head of RE, second in Humanities faculty, becoming Assistant Head of Sixth Form in 2006. Ruth has thrown herself into extra-curricular activities throughout her teaching career; from singing in the school choir, directing school plays, running charity events to organising educational trips abroad.

Ruth has many interests which include music, reading, travel and spending fun quality time with husband Geoff an IT Project Manager and Cerys her four year old daughter. She is a huge rugby fan and, of course, a loyal Wales supporter!

As well as looking forward to the exciting new challenge of her role as Head of F6RM at The Isle of Wight College. It has long been a wish for Ruth and her family to return to the sea and countryside and they look forward to integrating into the life of the Isle of Wight.

For more information call the 6form hotline 01983 550666