Tyne Coast College offers diverse and innovative programmes of study to create opportunities for all to succeed, professionally and personally.
Working with employers, partners and other stakeholders, our offer is designed to meet the skills needs of the region and strongly support economic growth and prosperity. We have adopted a responsive curriculum, aligned to the LSIP priorities to ensure we tackle existing and future skills gaps in priority sectors.
Working from key campuses and locations, we offer students an almost unlimited range of vocational and technical qualifications which include Further Education, Apprenticeships, T Levels, Adult Learning, Foundation Learning, Distance Learning and Higher Education.
Incorporating the former South Tyneside and Tyne Metropolitan colleges, our key brands also include South Shields Marine School, recognised as one of the world’s foremost maritime training centres and winner of the prestigious Queens Anniversary Prize for excellence in Further and Higher Education.
Part of our offer north of the river includes our purpose-built construction facility and our centre for engineering and innovation, whilst south of the river our offer includes digital labs, recording booths, a state of the art music studio and commercial hair and beauty salons. Our off-shore training facility (MOST) is UK-leading, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that have been developed to provide commercial marine courses that emulate the most realistic offshore environment.
Overall, this provides an unbeatable offer to students of all ages, levels, and abilities.
Our mission, vision and values drive our delivery of first-class provision and show a clear commitment of support to all our staff and students equally.
Our purpose is to provide outstanding educational opportunities that will benefit learners and the communities we serve and our vision is to grow further as a world-class educational facility, operating with a focus that transforms lives, placing learners at the heart of what we do.
Our mission allows us to play a key role in ensuring the long-term prosperity of both local and national priorities through a responsive curriculum. Working with designated employers and representative bodies, we will endeavour to show high regard for the Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) and act as a delivery partner for Government backed programmes.
We believe in being a strong community presence and take PRIDE in helping every student to achieve their potential.
To achieve our mission and purpose we are committed to:
Dr Lindsey Whiterod CBE places innovation in education and an understanding of how curriculums must be shaped to meet the needs of industry and employers as well as students, as policy priorities.
Her clear understanding of the link between education and training and the workplace to influence economic growth, was central to the rapid rise in standards at South Tyneside College, where she was Chief Executive prior to the founding of Tyne Coast College.
It was here that Dr Whiterods resolute and forward-thinking approach to provision ensured courses, and resulting qualifications, targeted real jobs, a policy that won the approval of many within the North East business community, as well as education inspectorate Ofsted. It also led to the college being named the best in the country and the best for overall provision of Further Education at the prestigious TES FE Awards 2017.
Such was her influence on its academic resurgence, that she was made an OBE for services to education in the New Years Honours List in 2013, and later made a CBE in the New Year's Honours List in 2018.
Her achievements included overseeing capital refurbishment and estate rationalisation programmes of over £21m, part of which was a £4.5m upgrade to the world-famous South Shields Marine School, an improved Ofsted grading of good, and the creation of the Multi Academy Trust model whose successes include sponsoring a failing primary school, supporting its progress to be one of the most improved schools in the country.
Her new vision for Tyne Coast College sees continued innovation across specialisms, the increased targeting of links between the college and businesses to support the regions economic growth and prosperity, and the further development of a learning environment that inspires students to success.
Jane Cuthbertson, who is Chief Operating Officer for Tyne Coast College, has worked across public and private sector organisations in client and contractor environments.
Today, she oversees the college finances to ensure their strong financial health and solvency.
She is involved in various professional bodies within her sector of expertise, including the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), of which she is a former regional president and the Association of Accounting Technicians.
Jane holds an MSc in Public Services Management, is a Fellow member of CIPFA and a member of the AAT.
Mandy has over 30 years' experience in education, joining the college as interim Principal in December 2021 before accepting a permanent role in 2022.
Highly motivated and passionate about the sector, her enthusiastic and industrial approach to work epitomises a robust and resilient leader who provides clear direction and support to staff.
She has a significant track record of driving improvements in curriculum design aligned to the needs of industry, improving overall college performance, and promoting a positive and inclusive culture.
Her commitment to the student experience ensures students not only achieve their qualifications but, are equipped with the resilience, confidence and skills to succeed on their next step.
Her deep-rooted knowledge comes from working in a range of college roles. Her FE journey began as a lecturer in painting and decorating – making her one of the few women in construction at that time. Her career progressed in a range of operational, management and leadership roles across various college departments up to Group Vice Principal, Curriculum and Quality. This broad ranging experience allowed her to develop a diverse and comprehensive skill set, giving her a unique insight into what makes an outstanding college with positive outcomes for learners.
Her highly successful past performance of project managing college mergers and joint projects and her excellent standing and experience of working with Governors, Ofsted, ESFA and Dfe has supported the ambitious journey to achieve a positive merger experience for five Colleges.
Mandy's authenticity is transparent to all, ensuring staff at all levels of the organisation feel included, empowered and appreciated. Her proven track record in dealing with change has strongly promoted a culture of focused, high achieving colleagues.
Simon Ashton has journeyed far in his career since beginning his nautical studies as a marine cadet, sponsored by Shell Tankers, at South Shields Marine School in 1993. He qualified as a Deck Officer and a Marine Engineering officer four years later, also with Shell, and then switched course by joining Princess Cruises and later P&O Ferries. Always seeking greater professional expertise, Simon continued to study at the marine school during periods of leave and achieved a Master Mariners qualification in 2005, which allowed him to sail in the rank of Captain.
In 2006 he joined the marine school as a lecturer, and in 2010 he was promoted to Head of Department for Deck Officer of the Watch programmes. His dedication to improving Deck Officer of the Watch programmes led the marine school to become the leading maritime college in the country.
Simon became Assistant Principal in 2016 - the same year he attained a First Class Honours Degree, BA in Applied Management - Deputy Principal in 2018, and Principal in April 2020. He also sits on the main board of the Merchant Navy Training Board, which determines the structure and strategy for UK maritime training.
Bio coming soon.
Our Assistant Principal joined us in September 2022 and has already demonstrated a real commitment to the education sector.
Having qualified in a Sport Psychology MSc at Northumbria University and graduating with a PGCE from Bangor University, David took up the position of Head of Sport at Sunderland High School in 2009. During this time, he was also the Head Coach for the North East Independent School Football Association.
In 2016, looking for a fresh challenge and ready to broaden his experience, David made the decision to venture into Further Education. He became Curriculum Manager in Health and Social Care at a northeast college where his portfolio grew over the years, to include digital, performing arts, art, distance learning and Access. In 2021 he was appointed the lead for the colleges’ skills strategy.
David is a dynamic leader who works with curriculum and support services to ensure an outstanding student experience. He is the college’s lead on T Levels and work placements and the South Tyneside College curriculum lead.
As a native of South Shields, David is delighted to be making a difference to the education of young people in the borough where he grew up and still lives.
Tony brings 38 years of experience to his role as Director of Quality, having worked in - and with - a variety of education sectors including HE, secondary schools, FE and private training providers.
Responsible for quality management, assurance, processes and systems, Tony and his team utilise data and analytics to identify areas for improvement, track performance and ensure robust frameworks are adhered to and monitored.
This approach includes regular assessments, observations and constructive feedback underpinned by programmes of development and support so staff achieve outstanding educational outcomes for students.
This culture of support and growth ensures students leave us with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
Lorraine Schapiras dynamic approach and creative eye has underlined a consistently innovative and fresh approach to marketing across Tyne Coast Colleges brands.
She delivers powerfully persuasive strategies through a highly colourful and visually striking artistic language that always places students at the heart of the message.
Experienced in public relations and marketing, Lorraine ran her own communications and media business which specialised in working with education and training providers, for 10 years.
Her relationship with Tyne Coast College began when appointed outside marketing lead at South Tyneside College in 2013, which allowed her to use her wide range of media contacts and networks to great effect.
Highly motivated, she became Tyne Coast Colleges Head of Marketing upon its founding in August 2017, and has since led a series of effective marketing campaigns which have maximised its reputation.
Craig Scott's impressive track record of success across estates management and project delivery at Tyne Coast College and its brands has gone from strength to strength over two decades.
He began in management information systems (MIS) as a report writer in 2000 and by 2008 had been both IT systems manager and head of IT.
In 2014 Craig took responsibility for the management of the halls of residence at South Tyneside College (STC) - also overseeing catering and cleaning - and by 2015 he had taken the halls to Ofsted-rated 'Outstanding'.
Three years later he was appointed to his present post, which sees him lead on college estates, health and safety, MIS and libraries, and he is also Tyne Coast Colleges Prevent nominated person.
A highlight of his work was the IT management of the merger of STC and Tyne Metropolitan College, which created Tyne Coast College in 2017.
Emma Douglas joined the college in 2004 as a lecturer in Sociology and Criminology. Soon after her appointment, she identified a gap in the curriculum and worked with a local university to write and deliver a Foundation Degree. This sparked her passion in delivering higher education within a further education setting and she returned to education to complete her Ma in Crime, Governance and Social Justice in 2007.
Emma became a Quality Coordinator in 2016, following a number of years as a senior lecturer. As Quality Coordinator, Emma was involved in the quality assurance processes across a number of departments, including the Access to HE programmes, where she was Access Coordinator, supporting adult learners in achieving their dream of studying higher education.
In 2022, Emma took the role of Head of Department on an interim basis and gained experience of managing a diverse department, before being promoted to Director of Higher Education: Quality and Systems. Her vision is now to grow the HE offer and drive quality in its delivery, across all aspects of Tyne Coast College.
Allyson joined Tyne Coast College in September 2023 bringing with her 35 years of generalist HR experience. She began her HR career in local government, working for two district councils in the North East.
She moved on to the private sector, working for an engineering and environmental company in the North East but, with 13 offices nationwide as well as offices in Germany, Italy and Romania.
In 2017 she moved into Adult Social Care, taking up a critical Operations Manager role, supporting through the Covid pandemic.
Allyson has a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and is Chartered CIPD Member.
Join a passionate and dynamic team. We really care about making Tyne Coast College a vibrant, outstanding college. There couldnt be a more exciting time to help us reshape Tyne Coast College for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Almost 500 people work hard to make our College the success it is, from invigilators joining us for a few hours a year, through flexible part-time work to many full-time academic and support roles. If you share our passion for challenging, improving and making our college the best it can be, wed love to hear from you. Click here to view our current job vacancies.
