A BARROW college has announced the appointment of its new principal. 

Andrew Wren has been appointed as the successor to Anne Attwood who retired in July after 12 years as principal and chief executive of Furness College. 

Mr Wren, who grew up in Brampton near Carlisle, joins the college in September from East Riding College, Yorkshire, where he is vice principal. 

The new principal said: “I am delighted to be joining a college which is as successful and forward-thinking as Furness College and I look forward to leading a team which makes such a positive impact on learners and employers across the area”. 

Furness College's chairman of governors, John Butler, said: “The board are very pleased to have secured the appointment of Andrew and to be welcoming him to Furness College. We are all looking forward to working with him in further developing the Ofsted success of Furness College and taking the college forward into a new era. 

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Anne for the outstanding contribution she has made to the development of further and higher education in Furness and wish her a long and happy retirement.” 

Mrs Attwood retired at the end of July, having arrived at the College in 200. She completed more than 40 years of service to education. Mrs Attwood achieved the building of a brand new campus, established a whole spectrum of courses up to MSc level and record numbers of learners now enrol on courses at Furness College. The most recent of many acknowledgments of her achievement came in being named one of the “Top 200 Greatest Cumbrians” by Cumbria Life magazine.